Tomato Lentil Curry 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.

CURRIED LENTIL, TOMATO, AND COCONUT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Cook onion, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lentils and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add tomatoes, ½ cup cilantro, a generous pinch of salt, and 2½ cups water; season with pepper. Set aside ¼ cup coconut milk for serving and add remaining coconut milk to saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft but not mushy, 20-25 minutes. Season soup with more salt and pepper if needed.
• To serve, divide soup among bowls. Drizzle with reserved coconut milk and top with more cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
• Do Ahead
• Soup (without toppings) can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

DAL (INDIAN LENTIL CURRY)

Steps:

• Soak Lentils: Rinse lentils and leave to soak in plenty of water for 1 hour. Drain in colander.
• Heat ghee/oil in a heavy based saucepan over high heat. Add green chillies and fry for a minute until starting to blister.
• Add onions and fry until softened.
• Lower heat to medium, add garlic, ginger and curry leaves. Cook for 1 minute until garlic starts to turn golden and smells amazing.
• Add tomatoes and cumin, cook until tomatoes start to break down and thicken to a paste - about 2 minutes.
• Add lentils, water, tumeric and salt. Stir, bring to simmer, cover and simmer gently for 1 hour. Stir two or three times during the hour.
• Remove lid and simmer gently for 30 minutes to thicken, stirring every now and then. The dal is ready when it has a consistency like porridge - some lentils should be intact but some have broken down to thicken the sauce.
• Stir through garam masala at the end. Adjust salt if desired.
• Pour over Tadka, if using, and stir through.
• Serve Dal over rice, garnished with a sprig of coriander if desired.

TOMATO AND LENTIL CURRY

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeño. Cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the curry powder, cumin, and sugar. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the potatoes and carrot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for a minute or two. Add the lentils, broth, coconut milk and tomatoes with their liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat so the mixture bubbles gently. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes and carrots are soft, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the cauliflower and adjust the heat so that the mixture bubbles gently. Cook until all of the vegetables are tender, about 15 more minutes. Serve in bowls with an extra drizzle of coconut milk, chopped cilantro, and a wedge of lime.

DHALL (LENTIL & TOMATO CURRY)

Steps:

• Combine in pan lentils, salt, curry powder, undrained chopped tomatoes, onion and water.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, simmer 50-60 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
• Pour half the mixture into blender, blend on medium speed 30 seconds, repeat with the rest of the curry, stir in garlic & oil.

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.

TOMATO-CURRY LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Combine lentils and water, bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to simmer, add tomatoes, onion, and celery. Cover and let simmer 45 minutes. Check every 15 minutes to stir, and add water if necessary. Add spices last 15 minutes to taste. Taste and re-spice if necessary before serving.

LENTIL & SWEET POTATO CURRY

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil in a large pan, add 1 chopped red onion and cook for a few mins until softened.
• Add 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp mustard seeds and 1 tbsp medium curry powder and cook for 1 min more, then stir in 100g red or green lentils (or a mixture), 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into chunks, 500ml vegetable stock and a 400g can chopped tomatoes.
• Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 20 mins until the lentils and sweet potatoes are tender. Add a drained 400g can chickpeas, then heat through.
• Season, sprinkle with ¼ small pack coriander, if you like, and serve with seasoned yogurt and naan bread.

RED LENTIL AND POTATO CURRY

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan or large skillet.
• 2. Cook the onion until edges begin to turn brown.
• 3. Add ginger, garlic and tomato. Cook for 5 minutes or until tomato begins to break down.
• 4. Add the diced potatoes, stir once or twice to coat with flavour.
• 5. Add the chilli pepper (if using), curry powder, turmeric, coriander. Coat the potatoes well. Cook for five minutes.
• 6. Add the lentils and water. Cook for 25-30 minutes, until lentils are soft.
• 7. You may need to add additional water if the lentils are not cooked through but all the water has been absorbed.
• 8. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
• 9. Serve with rice and naan bread.