Having recently had fun with spices that I purchased from Spice Kitchen and throughly enjoying their curry paste/marinade recipe, I have been chatting to Sanjay from the company and asked him what he and his Mum, Shashi, would feed me if they took part in my ‘What would you feed me?‘ series..he sent over this red lentil dahl recipe of his Mum’s and is very happy for me to share it with you.
Firstly, meet Sanjay and Shashi from Spice Kitchen…I love these photos; theirs is a new company, with an online shop and social enterprise, and the whole family is working together to build it and share their love of high quality hand blended and home ground Indian spices…’always sold with love’…
So, onto the recipe..
Red lentil dahl
Ingredients – for the lentils
200g red lentils
750ml water (approx)
1tsp salt
For the masala
1tbsp ghee or vegetable oil (I used coconut oil)
1tsp cumin seeds
1 onion, chopped (I used a red onion)
1 clove chopped garlic
2 chopped tomatoes (in the absence of fresh tomatoes, I used 2tbsp tomato purée)
1tsp ginger, grated
1tsp turmeric
1 chilli, finely chopped
1tsp fenugreek leaves
1tsp garam masala
Handful coriander
1. Wash the lentils throughly, ideally leaving them to soak. When the water runs clear you know the lentils have been washed properly.
2. Place the lentils in a pan with the salt, cover with the water and bring to the boil.
3. Remove the froth if there is any, reduce the heat and put the lid on the pan – leave to simmer for 10 minutes. Check the lentils are cooked by squeezing them between your fingers. Once soft remove from the heat.
4. In a frying pan heat the oil or butter.
5. Add the cumin, onion, chilli and gsrlic and fry until lightly browned. Reduce the heat and add the tomatoes, ginger, turmeric and fenugreek. Gently let the ingredients cook down for about 10 minutes to make a thick masala paste.
6. Add the masala paste in the frying pan to the lentils. It should have the consistency of a thick soup but if it’s too thick just add a little boiling water and remove from the heat. If you prefer it thicker just leave it on the heat to reduce until you get the consistency you want.
7. Check the seasoning and add a little salt if required. Stir in the garam masala and coriander. Add extra chilli powder if needed.
I ate this across two days, and, as is often the case, the flavour had developed even more by day two. I ate it with some roasted cauliflower and a ‘flatbread’ that I had had an idea about whilst walking Bob!
The ‘flatbread’ was basically, a couple of tablespoons of natural yoghurt mixed with almond flour, coconut flour and gluten free baking powder to make a dough, then cooked on a tawa over a medium heat until cooked through. It’s definitely a success in the making…this first attempt held together quite well in parts, but not as a whole. As you can imagine, I’ll be working on it! It tasted good though 🙂
I hope you like the recipe and enjoy meeting the face behind the Spice Kitchen – please note – I have not been paid or recompensed for the post in any way.
I am bringing my red lentil dahl and flatbread to this week’s Fiesta Friday – yes, it’s that time, let you hair down and join the party (that’s a bit hard for me with so little hair, but I’m sure some of you can make up for me!!!) – this week co hosted by the fabulous Jhuls and Justine, both great ladies,with great blogs. Have fun!
A couple of shots from my week to make you smile.. Enjoy xx
Thanks so much for sharing and for such a lovely writeup. Lots of love from Sanjay and Shashi
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My pleasure 🙂
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love the photos and all those spices look amazing! How are you doing? Thank you for joining in on FF #68, I shall try to behave, being co host, Justine xxx Glass of bubbly is waiting for you x
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Thank you 😀😀😀😀 enjoy co hosting xxx
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Thank you, haveyou recovered from last week? 😀 x
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Last week?
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didnt you host last week? x
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No, not me, it was Anna from Anna International x
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omg i am soo losing it!! sorry
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No worries xxx
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Very interested in the experimental gluten-free bread, as my personal experience with breads designed by Peter Reinhart were so-so, not great. I suspect that flatbreads are more forgiving and appropriate to go the gluten-free route.
funny that I would be interested in that, since I love gluten and gluten loves me… but I also love stretching the gastronomic limits… it’s fun, isn’t it?
love your photos, this whole post is making me want to go to the kitchen and start working!
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Thank you so much 🙂 I love playing with gluten free options, and you’re right, flatbreads lend themselves so well. I’ve made flatbreads from sweet potato and others with spinach before that worked well (they are in my index), I just love alternative bread options x
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Looks so delicious, Elaine! I love red lentil anything! 😀 So sweet, the little swanlings (or whatever baby swans are called! 😉 )
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Ha ha! Ducklings 🙂
Thank you xx
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Actually, no, I must correct myself: baby swans are signets aren’t they?
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What a particularly lovely post, Elaine ! – I adore dhal; and although I’m unlikely to go to this much trouble over serving it to myself, it’s easy to see how very yummy it must be !!!
Sanjay’s a bit of a dish, eh ? [grin]
Bob isn’t a puppy with huge feet any more. [sob !] – but what a happy dog he is !
As for the swan and her babies – words fail …
XO
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Thank you 🙂
What I would say is, this dahl is pretty straightforward to make and you could eat it across several days or freeze some batches?
My little Bob still hasn’t grown very big, which I like very much, but no, not quite the puppy anymore. He’s currently staring out of the kitchen door into the morning sunshine 🙂
xxx
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Yer right, of course ! I’ll check me ingredients then … Give him a cuddle from me – NOT FROM YOU !!!
😀
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Yeah, I’m sure he will understand….;) and I’ll let him lick YOUR face and hands and not mine!!!!
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[grin]
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The food looks delicious and the photos are beautiful, so much colour. And the swan with her babies is adorable.
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Thank you 🙂
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I love everything in this post, Elaine. The Spice Kitchen seems to have so many amazing spices and yes, I love their photos, too. ❤ The dish looks fabulously good to me as well.
And thanks for sharing the two wonderful views to make us all smile. Have a lovely weekend, Elaine, and happy FF! 🙂 xx
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Thank you sweetie, I hope you’re enjoying FF, thank you co hosting xxx
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I am, Elaine. So fun! 😀 Thanks! xx
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Wow red lentil dal – looks droolicious Elaine. …
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Thank you 🙂
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Lovely Dal and what a fab experiment on bread!
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Thank you xx
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I loved your post – haven’t had red lentils in a long time! Dals would be my go-to food as a student to bridge the gap between the end of the money and the beginning of the next month …
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Thank you 🙂
That makes sense, they’re a good cost effective meal aren’t they?
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They are, once you got your spices!
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My mum makes a red lentil Dahl similar to this which I just love. Loved the photos at the end of the post too they brought a huge smile to my face xxxxx
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Yay!! Lovely x x x
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Your pictures are beautiful, and this looks to be a very successful experiment. Also, thank you for sharing a bit of your life at the end of the post as well. Happy FF, and have a wonderful weekend! 😀
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Thank you so much, and you xx
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Beautiful photos and delicious recipes, as always! The more I read you, the more I hope to share a real meal with you, one day! xxx
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Thank you so much x x and me too 😀😀😀😀😀 xxx
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Xxx 🙂
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Gasp!! Are those baby swans?! What are they called again? Used to know these things. Btw, your photos keep getting better! Have you been taking lessons? 🙂 I’m actually thinking of taking one.
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I believe baby swans are signets? They are cute aren’t they?
And thank you – no, no lessons, just good light, trial and error, and a good editor 🙂
You, taking lessons in photography??? Are you kidding?? With your photos you could be GIVING lessons, not taking them!!!!
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I really like flat breads, have one recipe on my blog but it’s not gluten free. However, one of my friends is very sick and I decided to look for something good for him and I might try your recipe, sounds very healthy!! Have a lovely weekend xx
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I’d love it if my idea proved useful 🙂 it needs a bit of work though, as it did break in half. Very tasty though!
Did you ever see my spinach gluten free flatbreads or my sweet potato ones? They worked really well and might be useful. Also my goodness cakes are all gluten free xx
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Will check them out!! Thank you Elaine. You are the best ❤❤
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I hope it’s helpful 😀 most of my recipes are gluten free, sugar free and healthy concoctions so I hope some can be useful for you xx
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I hope he is well soon xx
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