Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Dahl that's not Dull


This and a bowl of brown rice is one of my favorite things to eat. Sometimes I even mix them together.
My buddy emailed me the other day looking for a good soup recipe, and this is it! It has a lot of flavor, and don't be shy on the sea salt! Add a little at a time, a chef once told me, you can always add more but you can't take it out.

  • 1 1/2 cups red lentils
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1 onion- finely chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic-minced
  • 1 large piece of ginger- peeled and minced
  •  1 tbsp cumin seeds- toasted and ground
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds- toasted and ground
  • 2 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
    In a large pot rinse and drain the lentils several times, until the water runs clear.
    Cover with water, (start with 4 cups) and bring to a boil, cook until lentils fall apart. You will have to skim off the foam several times, I find using a ladle works the best. If you see the water is evaporating add a cup or two.

    Heat a saute pan and add oil.

    Add onion, garlic and ginger, saute on low heat for at least 10 minutes.

    On medium/high heat, in a small frying pan add the cumin seeds and coriander seeds, toast until they change to a darker colour or you can smell them. Grind in a coffee grinder if you have one, I don't so I use a mortar and pestle. Add to the onion along with the rest of the spices, cook for 2-3 minutes.
    Add the onion and spice mixture to the skimmed off pot of lentils.

    Season with vinegar,syrup,salt and pepper. Finish with coconut milk.

    9 comments:

    1. I love lentils! They are so delicious and filling. Love the color in your picture.

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    2. thanks
      Dal also spelled dahl, dhal, and daal on the wiki:P

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    3. Beautiful color and great winter comfort food.

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    4. I'd love to have some of this with brown rice for lunch today! Looks delicious.

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    5. Congrats on your accomplishment! Dal, duhl, is a dish I'd like to do more of and have overlooked, usually eating it in dinning establishments.
      As a backcountry chef it would be a good dish to have on the menu... fast cooking and my eaters crave hot, spicy dishes.

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    6. What a great and simple dhal recipe; the colour is beautiful!! mmmmm lentils and warming spices... yum!! i will be trying this for sure!!

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    7. What a delicious looking soup! I love the flavors in this, too. I nominated you for the Honest Scrap Award! I love your recipes (those cinnamon rolls look amazing, too!).

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    8. 3 Studies SHOW Why Coconut Oil Kills Waist Fat.

      This means that you actually burn fat by eating coconut fat (in addition to coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut oil).

      These 3 studies from major medicinal magazines are sure to turn the conventional nutrition world around!

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