Curried Lentil Rice Food

LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• PREP: Measure the lentils and pick over to remove debris or shriveled lentils, and then thoroughly rinse with water. Add to a bowl, cover them in room-temperature water and let soak for 15-20 minutes. Prep the veggies: finely dice the onion and carrot; finely mince the garlic cloves and the ginger.
• SAUTE: Add the 3 tablespoons butter or oil to a large pot. Heat to medium and once the butter is melted or oil is shimmering, add in the 1 cup onion, 1 tablespoon garlic, and 1 and 1/2 tablespoon ginger. Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes. Add in the 1 cup diced carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally for another 6-8 minutes or until everything is golden. Nothing should be overly browning or burning; if so, turn down the heat. While everything is cooking, measure out the spices.
• SPICES AND TOMATOES: Add the 2 tablespoons red curry paste, 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder, 1 and 1/2 teaspoon garam masala, 1 and 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 3/4 teaspoon turmeric. Season with salt and pepper; I add 1 and 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper. Increase the heat to high, and stirring constantly, cook for 1-2 minutes or until very fragrant. Add in the tomatoes and reduce the heat to medium. Stir and cook for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits. Add in 1 teaspoon sugar.
• LENTILS AND LIQUIDS: Thoroughly drain the lentils. Add to the pot along with the can of coconut milk and 3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for another 5-8 minutes or until curry is thick and creamy and lentils are completely tender. If the mixture thickens too much, add a splash of broth or stock and if it's too thin (or lentils aren't tender yet), increase the heat a bit and simmer without the lid.
• FINISHING: Add in the 1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro and if desired, stir in the zest and juice of a lemon. Taste and adjust any seasonings; flavors should sing, so add extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed. Serve over cooked basmati rice if desired (Note 2) and enjoy hot.

SPICY CURRIED LENTILS AND RICE

Steps:

• Pour the oil into a medium or large saucepan with a lid over medium heat. Add the onion, ginger, garlic and pepper. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Cook until onion begins to slightly soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add lentils, rice, curry powder, and water. Stir well.
• Cover the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 35 minutes.
• Remove from heat, add peas to pot, replace cover and let sit undisturbed for 5 more minutes.
• Add tomatoes and salt and fluff with a fork. Transfer to a serving plate. Top with cilantro. Serve immediately.

CURRIED LENTILS AND RICE

Steps:

• Mix mint and yogurt and refrigerate.
• Wash rice in warm water until the water runs clear.
• Add olive oil, onion, curry, ginger and cumin to the rice cooker. Cook 4-5 minutes, stirring, to soften the onions.
• Add lentils and stir to coat. Add the broth, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients, except spinach, and continue to cook until rice cooker swithches to "warm" function.
• Carefully lift cover, then quickly stir in the spinach and re-cover. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. The rice should have an attractive, light brown crusting on the bottom.
• Serve with a dollop of the chilled, minted yogurt.

SHRIMP CURRY WITH LENTILS AND COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• Apricot chutney, fresh cilantro leaves and sliced green onions, for serving
• For the lentils: Coat a medium pot with ghee or olive oil and heat over medium. Add the garlic, onion, ginger, cumin and coriander and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the lentils, chicken stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and keep warm.
• Meanwhile for the rice: Add the coconut milk, rice, ginger, onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until rice is tender and has absorbed all liquid, about 25 minutes. Keep warm.
• For the curry: Process the onion in a blender or food processor until a puree.
• Heat the ghee in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garam masala, turmeric and cumin, coriander and pepper stir until the spices toasted are fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour the onion puree into pot and then add the tomatoes, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the chicken stock, tamarind and serrano pepper, stir well, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add the coconut milk, vinegar and lemon juice bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add the shrimp and simmer until they are pink and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
• To serve: Scoop mounds of rice in shallow bowls, add curry and lentils on either side of the rice. Top each bowl with apricot chutney, cilantro and green onion.

CURRIED LENTILS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the 2 T broth (or you can use oil) in a heavy-bottomed soup pot, saucepan, or Dutch oven and saute the onion with 1 clove of the garlic until it begins to turn translucent.
• Add the ginger, turmeric, and curry powder and saute for a few minutes longer.
• Add more broth (or water), if necessary, and the rice, and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add the lentils, 4 cups water, bouillon cubes, remaining garlic, and raisins and bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 25 minutes.
• Add the apples and simmer, covered, for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.
• Optionally, serve topped with plain yogurt and some more raisins.

RED LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Wash the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear. Put lentils in a pot with enough water to cover; bring to a boil, place a cover on the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, adding water during cooking as needed to keep covered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onions in hot oil until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Mix curry paste, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, salt, sugar, garlic, and ginger together in a large bowl; stir into the onions. Increase heat to high and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato puree, remove from heat and stir into the lentils.

CARIBBEAN CURRIED PEAS (LENTILS)

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat; cook and stir onion, carrots, salt, black pepper, and sugar until onion is a deep brown color, 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add garlic, chile pepper, ginger, and curry powder. Stir constantly to incorporate, about 5 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-heat and stir 1 can vegetable broth into the onion mixture. Scrape up any vegetables or curry powder stuck to the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add lentils and remaining 1 can of vegetable broth; cook until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir cilantro into lentils before serving.

CURRIED LENTIL, RICE AND CARROT BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a heavy ovenproof skillet and add the onion and carrot. Cook, stirring often, until just about tender, about 3 minutes, and add the mushrooms, ginger, turmeric, cumin, curry powder, mustard seeds and cayenne and a pinch of salt. Cook for another 3 minutes or so, until the vegetables are tender and fragrant and the spices aromatic. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Add the rice.
• Purée the lentils with the egg and add to the vegetable and rice mixture. Stir together, season with salt and pepper, and shape into 6 patties.
• Heat the ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and, working in batches if necessary, cook the patties for 2 minutes on one side, or until nicely browned. Carefully turn the patties over and place in the oven. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the patties are lightly browned and don't fall apart. Remove from the heat and serve, with or without buns, chutney or ketchup and the works.