Savory Red Lentils Food

MUM'S EVERYDAY RED LENTILS

Steps:

• Put the lentils in a strainer and rinse them under running water. Add them to a bowl, cover with water and let soak for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of water, the onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, chile, if using, and the lentils. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Skim any scum from the surface. DO NOT ADD SALT YET; it will toughen the lentils, thereby lengthening their cooking time. Lower the heat, cover the pot with a lid and gently simmer until the lentils are tender, almost translucent, and almost falling apart, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Whisk the lentils, releasing its natural starch, and mash some them so the mixture becomes thick. Add salt, to taste.
• Tempering oil (bagaar): In a small bowl, combine the cumin and mustard seeds. In another bowl, combine the spice powders. Have all the ingredients ready because this will move very fast!
• In a small skillet, over a medium-high flame, warm 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add seeds and immediately cover so you don't get covered in spluttering oil and seeds! Add the spices. They should sizzle and bubble a little - that's the blooming and it's exactly what you want. Don't let them burn. The mixture should bloom for about 30 seconds, no more.
• Pour the oil mixture into the lentils, standing back so you don't get hurt when the mixture splutters again. Stir to combine. Transfer the lentils to a serving dish and garnish with cilantro.

SAVORY RED LENTILS

Steps:

• Saute chopped onion and garlic for several.
• minutes.
• Rinse red lentils, and add with the rest of the ingredients.
• Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Uncover and cook for 5 minutes more. Add more water if needed.

LENTIL SOUP IN BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• Cook the pancetta in a heavy-bottomed 4- to 5-quart pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until crisp and the fat has rendered, about 10 minutes. Add the onion and jalapeño pepper. Season with salt and sweat until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. (Add a little oil if your pot seems dry.) Add the cumin and coriander. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the lentils, can of tomatoes, chicken stock and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine, then increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to marry the flavors. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until the lentils are tender, start checking at 20 minutes. Continue cooking, uncovered, stirring to break down the lentils and thicken the soup, another 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Serve in bowls with a drizzle of olive oil, a dollop of yogurt and fresh cilantro leaves, or use the bread bowls. If using the bread bowls, cut a circle around the top of each with a paring knife, then gently pull out the tops. Remove some of the bread innards and have as a snack. Fill each bread bowl with hot soup and garnish with a dollop of yogurt and fresh cilantro leaves.
• Combine the flour, milk powder, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together. Add the water and oil and mix with the dough hook until a dough forms, scraping down the sides. Knead on medium-high speed until it pulls away from the side of the bowl and makes a smacking noise, 12 to 15 minutes. (The dough will be very sticky and soft, but do not add more flour.) Scrape out into a liberally oiled bowl, then toss to coat in the oil and cover in plastic. Allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prepare a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured countertop and gently fold over onto itself to deflate some of the gas. Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll into tight balls. Evenly space the balls on the prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic. Let proof until puffy and almost doubled; depending on the temperature, this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Snip the tops of the dough balls with scissors in an X and bake until golden brown and puffed up and they feel hollow when you tap, begin checking at 15 minutes. Let cool on a rack.

GARLICKY DAL (SAVORY LENTILS)

Steps:

• Pick over dry dal for grit; rinse a couple of times and drain.
• Bring to boil about 3 cups water in a 2-quart saucepan.
• Add dal to hot water.
• Stir in salt and turmeric powder.
• (Water can boil over when dal is added; lower the heat as needed.) Partially cover and simmer on medium heat until dal is tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
• (Add hot water depending on the consistency desired.) Note: Split dal can be cooked in a slow cooker[2 to 3 hours] or in a pressure cooker for about 10 minutes.
• To sauté, heat the oil in a small skillet on medium heat.
• Add cumin seeds; as soon as they change color (few seconds), add garlic and onions.
• Stir, sprinkling little water if needed, until onions are golden brown.
• Add ginger and remaining seasonings (except tomatoes and garam masala); stir for a couple of minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook for another minute.
• 5.
• Mix the sautéed seasonings into the cooked dal and continue cooking on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until dal is thickened.
• Add garam masala.
• 6.
• Serve hot, garnished with green coriander.
• Optionally sprinkle lemon juice.
• Variation 1: Use brown lentils, peeled yellow Mung, peeled light yellow Urad, or split dark yellow Toor (or a mix of them).
• They take about 3 cups of water to 1 cup of dry dal and only 30 to 40 minutes to cook.
• Variation 2: Use whole green Mung, whole black Urad, whole dark brown Masoor, whole yellow brownish Toor, or split yellow Chana (or a mix of them).
• They take 3 to 4 cups of water to 1 cup of dry dal and longer to cook (about 1 hour).
• (Takes 4 to 5 hours in slow cooker, 25 minutes in pressure cooker.) Healthy Alternative: Add some vegetable stock or 3 tablespoons of Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) when dal is half cooked.

SAVORY GOLDEN LENTIL AND SWEET POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the lentils in roughly 1 cup of cold water or green tea for at least 30 minutes.
• In a medium-sized stock pot over medium-high heat, sauté the diced onions and garlic in 1/4 cup of the chicken broth until the onions become translucent (around 5 minutes).
• Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, and red wine. Cook for around 1 minute or until the wine becomes very fragrant.
• Add the lentils, water, and chicken broth. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring the mixture occasionally.
• Reduce the heat. Add the red pepper flakes and fennel seed and cover, allowing the soup to simmer for about 20 minutes or until the lentils and sweet potatoes begin to fall apart.
• Remove the lid and add the spices. If you would like to get a thicker consistency, kick the heat back up and reduce until it hits the desired thickness. You may want to adjust the amounts of salt and pepper, depending on your own tastes.
• Serve the soup either on its own or over a starch with a dollop of raita (thick yogurt mixed with vegetables) or sour cream. Garnish with whatever you like (Featured in the photo is yogurt, carrot, and a dash of paprika.).

SAVORY LENTILS FROM PANAMA

Steps:

• Wash lentils thoroughly.
• Put them in saucepan and cover with water, add butter or oil.
• Cover and bring to a natural simmer over low heat.
• *Note-this takes a little while but prevents lentils from breaking.
• Once at a low boil, you may need to tilt the lid slightly to release steam and prevent overboil.
• Add onions, peppers, and garlic and continue to simmer for about 45 mins or until lentils are soft.
• Drain lentils in a strainer with a measuring cup beneath to catch the excess liquid.
• Pour off all but 1 cup of the liquid (keeping the last cup gives the best texture) and return to the pan with boullion cubes, until dissolved.
• Return lentils to pan and cook 15 mins more, adding salt& pepper.

CURRIED RED LENTILS

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils in cold water until the water runs clear.
• Add lentils and enough water to cover to a saucepan and simmer until the lentils are tender (about 30 minutes).
• Add water if necessary.
• While the lentils are cooking, caramelize the onions in the vegetable oil in a large skillet.
• Combine the curry paste, spices, garlic and ginger in a bowl.
• Mix well.
• When the onions are cooked, add the curry mixture to the pan.
• Cook over a high heat, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes.
• Stir in the tomat puree and reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Cook the curry base until the lentils are ready.
• When the lentils are tender, drain off any exceess water and add the lentils to the curry mixture.
• Combine thoroughly and serve immediately.