Spiced Yellow Lentils With Quinoa Food

LENTIL AND QUINOA SOUP

Steps:

• Pulse the onion and carrots in a food processor until chopped into small pieces. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion-carrot mixture, 1 teaspoon dried mint and the cumin seeds. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, chop the tomatoes. Add to the pot and stir until they start to lose their shape, about 2 minutes. Add 7 cups water, the lentils, quinoa, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then uncover and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook until the lentils are just tender, about 25 minutes (thin with 1 to 2 tablespoons water, if necessary). Season with salt and pepper.
• A few minutes before the soup is done, finely chop the garlic. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it just starts to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes and remaining 1/2 teaspoon dried mint; remove from the heat.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Thin the labneh with 1 to 2 tablespoons water and add a dollop to each bowl. Drizzle the garlic butter on top.

SPICED YELLOW LENTILS WITH QUINOA

Steps:

• Rinse the quinoa thoroughly and combine with the water and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the white quinoa displays a little white spiral. Turn off the heat, remove the lid and place a dish towel over the top of the pot. Return the lid and let sit for 15 minutes. The quinoa will now be fluffy. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, combine the lentils, ginger, turmeric and onion half (don't chop it) with 1 quart water and salt to taste (about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons) and bring to a gentle boil. Stir only once to make sure there are no lentils sticking to the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to medium - the lentils should simmer briskly - and cook uncovered until the lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in the lime juice or tamarind concentrate and add another 1/2 cup water. Stir together and simmer for another minute. Turn off the heat and using an immersion blender, an Indian mathani (a wooden tool used for mashing dal) or a wooden Mexican hot chocolate mixer, partially pureé the dal. It should be thick but not like a pureed soup.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan or small frying pan (such as an 8-inch omelet pan). Add the cumin seeds and allow to sizzle, stirring, for 10 seconds. Add the garlic and cook until lightly colored, about 15 seconds. Add the red pepper and cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour over the lentils. Add the cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the cilantro and stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve the quinoa with the dal spooned on top. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.

QUINOA AND LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large nonstick skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and just beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, another 30 seconds to a minute. Add remaining oil and stir in quinoa and lentils. Add herbs and pepper, stir together, taste and adjust salt. Remove from heat and serve, adding a squeeze of lemon to each serving.

SPICY LENTIL QUINOA CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 3 minutes. Mix in mushrooms, carrots, and garlic; cook until flavors combine, about 2 minutes.
• Stir vegetable broth, water, lentils, quinoa, tomato paste, curry powder, chili powder, cumin, ginger, cayenne pepper, garam masala, turmeric, salt, and pepper into the saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover; let simmer until vegetables are cooked through, about 40 minutes.
• Stir butter and cream into the saucepan. Replace the lid and cook until the lentils are tender, about 5 minutes.