Today I made a one pot, gluten free, vegan meal that was ready in less than 30 minutes. It made planned leftovers, is very budget-friendly, is hearty and satisfying, and used up some things in my cupboard. And for a second made me think I went to Southeast Asia without leaving San Diego.
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Curried Ginger & Raisin Lentils
Ingredients
1 c dry Green Lentils (green lentils are much heartier and firmer than red which turn to mush much easier)
1/2 c Raisins
1.5 Tbsp Garam Masala seasoning
1 Tbsp Ground Ginger
1 Tsp Cumin
1 6-ounce can tomato paste (a 4-oz can or a fruity salsa would also work, or omit entirely) + add 1/2 c water or more to desired thickness
1 c diced Vegetables (I used carrots and broccoli stalks)
2 Tbsp EVOO (or coconut oil)
1 Tbsp Salt (optional)
1 Tbsp Sugar (optional)
Directions
Cook 1 cup dry lentils with 2 cups water on stovetop (Bring the lentils and water to a boil, then cover and reduce heat). Simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until about 85% of the water has been cooked off.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Stir, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes.
Serve (and optional garnish with raisins)
Yields: Dinner for 3, plus leftovers that will serve dinner for 3, again. Planned leftovers save lives.
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Here’s a Visual Guide
After cooking 15 minutes, 85% of the water was absorbed
Then add everything else
After stirring and simmering another 10 minutes the meal was ready
Garnish with raisins if you want to get fancy
The flavor of the garam masala which includes cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, plus the additional ginger, combined with raisins worked wonderfully with the acidity of the tomato paste. For my palette, with lentils being somewhat “earthy” tasting, I find they can use plenty of flavoring and doctoring up. And flavored and doctored up is exactly what this recipe did, without being over-powering.
If you wanted to eat this in a pita pocket, on a bun or on bread, or use as a thick dip with chips, like pita chips or bruchetta-style bread rounds, it would definitely work.
Planned leftovers are a dinnertime salvation when I am gone and Scott has to heat something up and fend for himself and Skylar without me.
If you like the looks of these lentils, I’ve been on a lentil kick the past week.
Try the Chipotle Salsa Lentils with Mixed Vegetables
By using different spices you can take the flavor of lentils from Southwestern and smoky to Eastern/Asian and exotic.
From my last post about about my meetup with my friend Amber, I am glad most of you seem to get together with your friends regularly, too. It’s so important for the mind, body, and spirit!
And thanks for filling me in on your Valentine’s Day plans. Or lack thereof.
If you need something sweet to wash your lentils down with, try a Microwave Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Snack Bar
Questions:
1. What did you do for Valentine’s Day?
I ran errands, worked, cooked, blogged about it, was a Mommy, and life carried on as usual. There was nothing “special” about the 14th. But it was fun hanging out with Skylar and seeing her excited.
2. Do you like lentils?
I know I asked this before, but lately I’ve been on quite a kick.
3. Any recipes you’ve made or had your eye on with lentils?
Other lentil recipes I want to try
The PPK’s Original Snobby Joes
Sloppy Josephines (Both those recipes seem similar but I have yet to try either and would like to because I loved sloppy joes as a kid. Actually, I loved Manwich and I will admit to it.)
Angela has a lentil loaf
Christine has sprouted lentils
So many lentils, so much fiber so little time.
How funny! We must all have a psychic thing going on or something because I just ordered a 1lb. bag of organic green lentils from NutsOnline.com today (only 3.99/LB.)! Can’t wait to try some of those recipes. I’m thinking maybe something fake taco-“meat”-ish in a taco shell? I feel like I recently saw a recipe for that on a blog somewhere but now can’t remember where….
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/05/raw-vegan-taco-nut-meat-raw-vegan-taco.html
maybe that one for taco nut meat!
Made lentils tonight in fact! LOVE them!
https://frugalhealthysimple.blogspot.com/2009/01/red-lentil-curry.html
they look delish!
I am always looking for a new way to cook lentils (and Indian spices are a favorite). Ive bookmarked this and will definitely be trying it.
thanks for stopping by & bookmarking!
Oh yes we love lentils! And the recipes sounds soooo good :)
Skylar has grown so much!!! She is just a doll – gorgeous!
I found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later.
Hi, I can’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Can you help me, please :)
Averie — you combined my favorite things (curry, ginger, raisins, and lentils) into one fantastic dish! I’m definitely going to have to try this!
I haven’t had lentils in so long but I would def be up for trying some lentil meatloaf or the recipe you have here.
For Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend got me flowers and we went to a restaurant called Bertucci’s (Italian)
It was a fun-filled weekend!
YUM! I love lentils, as you’ve seen! :D
There’s a recipe for them that I’ve been dying to try: Lentil lasagna. Instead of noodles, you use lentils. Everything else stays the same. Of course you could vegify it by using tofu instead of ricotta. I <3 legumes :)
Thanks for the linky love!!
This looks DELICIOUS!! I am bookmarking this!! :D
I love lentils! I just had a lentil stew for dinner- delish! I always have green lentils too cos I prefer them and they contain more fiber :)
Have to make those chocolate PB bars of yours soon too! They look amazing!!
i love this! i’ve been on the hunt for garam masala forever! why does no foodstore near me carry it. i guess it’s going to go on my whole foods and rape my wallet list haha.
glad you had such a wonderful valentines day filled with LOTS of love from your hubby bubby and your gorgeous daughter :) love you girl!
I just made a roasted red pepper and lentil soup!
I didn’t do anything for valentines really just hung out at home and read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest lol.
i dont even know that book….so many books, so little time to even read!
I like lentils a lot. Indian dahls are a favorite. The most recent thing I made with lentils was a sprouted lentil dish: recipe in the book Becoming Raw. It was a Mexican salad, with lots of veggies in addition to the lentil sprouts and it was very, very good. I will make again.
i have that book, need to look up the recipe.
Spicy Mexican Salad page 288
Just made lentil soup last night! We love lentils. High iron.