Ingredients
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1 large white onion, peeled and chopped
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oil (for frying)
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1 tablespoon curry powder, mild, good quality
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2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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1 teaspoon ground cumin
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1 teaspoon ground coriander
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1 teaspoon ground ginger (or use 1 T fresh ginger, grated)
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3 tomatoes, ripe, peeled and chopped
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1 tablespoon brown sugar
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14 ounces coconut milk (400 ml)
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4 tablespoons soy sauce
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2 cups water
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1 cup zucchini, chopped (or butternut squash, in julienne strips)
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1 cup peas (frozen is easiest)
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1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
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1 cup carrot, chopped (about 3 carrots)
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2 teaspoons fennel seeds
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2 cups red lentils (the split red lentils)
Instructions
- Heat a generous amount of oil in a medium pot (the spices absorb oil).
- Fry the chopped onion, stirring a few times, for 5 minutes or until softened. Use medium heat.
- Add the curry powder and spices. It's easiest and more practical to measure them before starting and mix them in a small bowl. (Curry, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, ginger, fennel seeds).
- Stir well, and fry spices with the onion for about 2 minutes.
- Add the peeled, chopped tomato and the sugar. (The tomatoes must be peeled and the sugar is essential).
- As coconut milk separates in the tin, empty into a bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add the coconut milk, soy sauce, lentils, carrots and water to the pot with the spices.
- Stir everything well, and bring to boil over higher heat. When it starts boiling, put the lid on the pot, almost closed but not quite -- tilted a little.
- Reduce heat to low enough so pot simmers slowly. Simmer until lentils are tender and have absorbed the liquid -- about 20 - 25 minutes.
- Add the zucchini and peas, stir through, and simmer just a minute or two, until the two last vegetables are barely done and not mushy.
- Mound in a dish and keep warm until serving, or heat gently the next day. The flavor improves if made ahead of time.
- Sprinkle over parsley for colour just before serving.
- Serve with blobs of thick Greek yoghurt and a large bowl of sliced bananas sprinkled with lime or lemon juice. (Or a side dish of your choice).
- PLEASE NOTE: This is also a perfect, all-in-one side dish for meat-eaters. It is delicious with a bowl of oven-baked chicken pieces, flavored with seasoning salt and some Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce -- which is what I served with it last night. Then it only needed a green salad and some cold white wine!