Coconut Pumpkin Lentil Stew Food

LENTIL STEW WITH PUMPKIN OR SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, water or stock, onion, garlic cloves and bay leaf in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Rub the saffron between your fingers and add to the pot, along with the turmeric and the cilantro. Reduce the heat, add salt to taste, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Remove the onion and garlic cloves from the pot, and add the remaining ingredients except the parsley. Bring back to a simmer, cover and simmer 30 minutes or until the lentils and vegetables are tender. Discard the cilantro bundle, taste and adjust seasonings. Just before serving, stir in the parsley.

PUMPKIN COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• OPTIONAL STEP: I prefer my pumpkin caramelised so instead of cooking it in the curry sauce, I roasted it in the oven. I drizzled it with olive oil, sprinkled with some salt and baked on a baking tray in a 200° C / 390° F oven for about 30 mins.
• Heat up oil on a medium heat, in a heavy bottom pan. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and wait until they start popping, stirring from time to time. Wait another minute before adding onion.
• Add chopped onion, sweat it gently, stirring from time to time until it gets almost soft.
• Add garlic, ginger, fresh chilli and chopped coriander stalks. Cook for 2 minutes stirring frequently so that ginger does not stick to the pan.
• Now add all the ground spices and 1 tsp of salt. Reduce the heat to low and coat everything in the pot in spices. Stir frequently, cook for 1-2 minutes until all spices are fragrant.
• Add chopped tomatoes and ¼ cup / 60 ml of water. Cook for 2 minutes until tomatoes become mushy.
• Add coconut milk and pumpkin. Let everything come to a gentle boil, simmer covered until pumpkin is tender. If you're roasting the pumpkin, simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes.
• Taste and adjust spicing if needed. I added a bit more salt and a 2 teaspoons of maple syrup.
• Serve with coriander leaves and chopped cashews on top, with basmati rice or a roti. A side of spicy coconut kale goes really well with it too.

JAMAICAN LENTIL STEW WITH COCONUT

Steps:

• Make a thick paste by mashing ginger and garlic together using a pestle and mortar or a small bowl and the heel of a wooden spoon.
• Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large saucepan, add the onion and saute until transparent.
• Add the garlic ginger paste and saute another 2 minutes until fragrant; lower heat and stir constantly to avoid burning the paste.
• Add the spices and saute for a minute more.
• Stir in the coconut milk, stock, lentils, sweet potato and pumpkin puree.
• Simmer over medium - low heat for 40 - 50 minutes or until sweet potato is soft and almost melting into the stew. Be sure to stir occasionaly.
• Before serving, stir in the red curry paste if you are using it or adjust seasoning with black pepper.
• NOTE: The stew has a creamy texture and is thick with lentils, sweet potato and pumpkin that melt into a delictable base. If you prefer a lighter soup then add more stock to thin the base, or try adding more cocount milk for a very savory and unique taste.

LENTIL STEW WITH COCONUT AND MADRAS CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, madras curry, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to soften, about 1 minute. Add the parsnips, sweet potatoes and red lentils and cook until warm, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the vegetable stock and coconut milk. Simmer until the vegetables are tender and the lentils are cooked, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute more. Ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with the Fresno chile, fresh mint and a lime wedge. Serve with grilled naan if desired.

COCONUT PUMPKIN LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large saucepan, add the onion and saute until transparent.
• Add the garlic and ginger, sauté another 2 minutes until fragrant; lower heat and stir constantly to avoid burning.
• Add the spices and sauté for a minute more.
• Stir in the coconut milk, stock, lentils, and pumpkin puree.
• Simmer over medium-low heat for 40 to 50 minutes or until lentils are tender. Be sure to stir occasionally.
• Before serving, stir in the red curry paste if you are using it or adjust seasoning with black pepper. For a smoother stew, you can use an immersion blender. Garnish with fresh cilantro or thai basil, serve with crusty bread.