Are you one of those people who has inspirational post-its taped to your computer monitor? Do you write weird random messages to yourself? I ask because I am one of those people.
My co-workers are already used to many of my weird habits: my giant green smoothies for breakfast, how I have to talk out loud as I write my emails, my growing forest of office plants… I could go on, but I will spare myself the embarrassment.
My most recent addition to my post-it monitor collection is a rather simple, strange message: Eat more dal. You’re worth it. Very true.
Dal is a thick lentil stew cooked with spices that is traditionally eaten in India. It is one of my favorite dishes and is the perfect hearty, protein-rich meal. Dal goes well with rice, vegetables, and flat-bread for an easy meal – perfect for any weeknight dinner or a Sunday supper. If you are looking for simple comfort food and a nourishing dish then this dal is for you. You’re worth it.
Simple Lentil Dal
Author: Sonnet
Recipe type: Entree
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 – 6
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
- 1 cup yellow lentils
- 1 cup grey-green lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 4.5 cups vegetable broth
- cilantro for garnish (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste (if desired)
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté for an additional minute. Add the lentils, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, turmeric, cumin, tomato paste, and broth. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Let cook for 20 – 30 minutes, until lentils are tender. Remove the bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm.
This looks delish! And more importantly it may be something my two little guys will eat.
I just discovered your blog and really love it! Thanks for sharing your food world with us!
sheryl
single momma in nyc always looking for things that they’ll eat!
Thanks Sheryl! Let me know how the boys like it!
Yes, I have inspirational post-its taped to my computer monitor at work too! A little positive self-talk never hurt anyone.
I also have calming sayings/perspective reminders engraved on silver bangle bracelets that I found on etsy… that way I can still try to remember them even when I am not at my computer, ha! Thanks for making dal look easy, I probably never would have tried my hand at it if I hadn’t seen it here!
Love the engraved bracelet idea!
Oh my, this look SOOOO good! A must try!
Lovely photos too!
Jo-Anna
I, too, just found your website about a week ago. I have since started having a green smoothing EVERY morning for breakfast, and let me tell you, there’s no going back now. I can already feel such a difference : ) THANK YOU!!
Laura – that’s amazing! Congratulations on making your health a priority each morning! Hope you continue to find inspiration here to aid you in your healthful journey.
Why, oh why, do I not make dal more often!? Your recipe looks so easy, yet comforting and filling. And, as usual, your photo is beautiful and inviting. Thank you for the inspiration!
wish this would materialize in front of my eyes, NOW!!!
I love simple dals! I am not Indian but they are still my comfort food.
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I used chickpeas and red lentils instead. It was super easy!
Made this tonight – delicious!! I’ve never noticed the cinnamon before – I liked it so much more than I thought I would. Thanks for a yummy recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi: Lovely pictures and nice recipe. I am glad you like dal. It is one of the best comfort foods on the planet, a great package of flavor and nutrition (packed with protein, fiber, etc.)
But a couple of points: Dal is eaten all over India, not only South India. In fact, “Dal” is a Hindi language word, and Hindi is not one of the languages of South India (India has over 22 official languages and hundreds of sub dialects). The recipe you gave is a very nice, basic, generic, Northern Indian dal recipe. I think no other region in the world does so much with dal, or uses so many different dal varieties, as does the Indian subcontinent.
To vary it, you can substitute the whole brown lentils with any of the different split lentils used all over India (e.g. split moong dal, red lentils aka split masoor dal, split pigeon peas aka toor dal, etc.). You can vary the spices almost infintely, whether more complex (way more complex than your recipe) or very very simple (e.g. just cumin seed, minced ginger, and dry red chillies, fried in a little oil and added to moong dal that has been cooked till soft and creamy with salt and turmeric).
You can eat dal every day of the week for a month, and not repeat a recipe nor grow tired of it. Happy eating!
Thanks so much for all the great info! I’ll adjust the post above to say that it is eaten all over India. And I love all the recipe suggestions!
Hi, I have just discovered your blog! I am amazed! Thank you for sharing…
Thanks so much!
Wow the daal looks splendid and mouthwatering i love the way you took the pic of the green cilantro, makes a person feel so fresh…Keep up the great work