Two go tos for us.
1. Curried Lentil soup
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, chopped, divided
- 2 tablespoons curry powder, or more to taste (used yellow curry paste)
- 1 cup French green lentils
- 4 cups water
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained, rinsed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Directions
1. In a large heavy pot, heat half the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and carrot, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook until onion is translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes, then stir in curry powder. Cook, stirring constantly to prevent spices from burning, until spices are fragrant.
2. Add lentils and water and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, puree chickpeas, lemon juice, remaining olive oil, and 1/4 cup of water. Stir puree into lentils, along with butter. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and/or additional curry powder, then thin soup with water until desired consistency.
4. Divide amongst soup bowls and serve garnished with green onion and with lemons on the side.
2.
2.Easy Dal
Ingredients
- 3 cups red lentils
- 7.5 cups water
- 1.5 tsp coriander
- 1.5 tsp chili powder
- 1.5 tsp garam masala
- 1.5 tsp cumin
- .75 tsp turmeric
- 4 tsp salt
- 1 whole head of garlic, crushed and chopped
- 4 tbsp butter
- Fresh or frozen cilantro
Steps
- Bring lentils and water to a boil and turn down to medium
- Add spices
- Cover and cook for 1.25 hours or longer, stirring occasionally. Add more water if needed.
- Once the lentils are cooked, start the butter and garlic (tadka)
- in a small sauce pan cook the butter and garlic until the butter is frothy and the garlic is golden brown
- Add the tadka to the dal
- Stir in the cilantro