Red lentils

[buttmunch]

Anyone have any good recipes for red lentils? I have a big bag of them and want to make something with them but can't find anything good. Help??

[sputnik]

you can make dhal.
be warned: this is not 'light' in any way but every once in a while if you want some spicy comfort food, this is perfect.


Start with the dhal base:

1 onion, v. roughly chopped
1 ripe tomato, v. roughly chopped
2 green chillies, roughly chopped
225/250g red lentils
250ml coconut milk (1 cup)
2 cups water

chuck it all into a big pot and bring to boil. While bringing to boil, throw in:

1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
(I tend to bump this up a little, you can double it if you like, but keep the tsp flat - depends on how dhal-y you want the flavour)
good pinch asafoetida, if you can get it (reduces farting)

When brought to boil, turn down and simmer gently uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent bottom-sticking, until the lentils are all mushy and the texture is gloopy. This should take about 25 minutes. In the meantime, you do the tarka, or 'tempering', which is the fried-y fatty flavoury stuff you stir in at the end.

1 finely chopped onion
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
whole lot of curry leaves (these can be a bit hard to find, but worth the effort. You can use fresh or dried. )
2 Tablespoons Oil
2 tablespoons butter
chopped garlic and/or ginger (optional but i think it's much better with both)

Pop the mustard seeds and cumin seeds in oil
Add the butter, onions, mustard leaves and anything else, and fry until onion is brown and delicious and crispy little bits . You can add a wodge of butter after you put the onion in, to make it even more delicious.

When the dhal is mushy, stir in the tarka.

serve in bowls over white rice.

[ang]

i love this recipe for honey baked lentils. i use extra garlic & added whatever veggies we have on hand. i really like it with carrots, mushrooms & squash.



Honey Baked Lentils
1 cup lentils (I use red)
2 cups water
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ginger, grated or minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
salt & pepper to taste

Bake in a covered dish at 350 until tender (about an hour and a half).

[sputnik]

^^^
yum. i'm going to try that.

[ang]

^^hope you enjoy it. i think it's really good.

[qwerty]

I don't think I've ever had red lentils. Any differences in taste/texture/cooking time, etc. with other varieties?

[buttmunch]

Not sure. Still haven't used them but will do this week. These recipes look amazing.