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.
[print_this]
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.
[/print_this]
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.
I have to say, my injury appetite is MUCH different than what it was pre-surgery and meds. All I crave now are plain foods, fatty proteins and simple sugars. But this is usually a dish I’d be all over!
Angela has lentil walnut burgers that I made last week that I’d also suggest! I didn’t eat them as burgers though, but crumbled on top of salads :)
I love the looks of that one pot meal!! Yum!
Thick, stew-like beans and veggies are always welcomed in my house:)
Skylar looks so happy..and love the outfit!
I love lentils big time – cooked in stew, made into burgers, sprouted, loafs..love it all!
I love the PPK snobby joes..as well as Vegan Dad’s version
I made a lentil bake the other day with green lentils and sweet potato that was amazing!! I love that you used a whole can of tomato paste here… I love that intense tomato flavor! :)
yeah i didnt realize just how THICK an entire (little!) can would make them….could have done with less, but it all worked out :)
I ♥ lentils and they pack such a great nutritional package! They’re super filling and just super healthy. I made mama pea’s sloppy Josephine’s and they rocked my socks! Of course, I put my own spin on it though ;)
That recipe looks great! And I like how adding raisins to something makes it taste Indian. I love lentils and I’ve been eating a lot of lentil soup lately.
Oh! Another lentil recipe I must try. I’m currently sitting here eating a bowl of your chipotle salsa lentils. YUM! :)
well now you have another lentil recipe in your arsenal :)
Love lentils! They are so versatile and I’m trying to use them more and more :)
Nothing for Valentine’s Day for us, we don’t *do* v-day so it was thankfully just another Monday!
Valentine’s meal my hubby made was awesome. I finished it up by making your PB Marshmallow bars with Choc Frosting. Yum! Followed by watching a movie by the fire.
I still haven’t tried the green lentils, but it is on my “to try” list.
glad you made the PB Marshmallow bars with Choc Frosting! yay :)
Wow, getting creative with lentils! This recipe looks wonderful, but just about anything with curry does to me. :-)
1. Had a fun gift exchange and dinner out with hubby.
2. Yes.
3. Quite a few, lentil quinoa chili, butternut lentil stews, etc.
i know you are a lentil queen! :)
Ok – I’m loving your one pot meals, as they all look SO amazing! This one especially – And, I really like the addition of the raisins. :) Weird timing too, as just yesterday I started bookmarking ‘lentil’ based recipes – I don’t know what it is, but I just started craving them all of a sudden… Hmm, looks like I know what I’ll be cooking this weekend!
ask and you shall receive :)
Averie!
I am so excited to finally come out of hiding. I LOVE ….LOVE your new layout. Firts and foremost because it looks amazing and it is very neat but more selfishly….I can get your website to work! I was stuck keeping you in my reader…
Anyways, I want to thank you for making me smile every day, for making me want to live and eat better and giving up awesome recipes for doing just that. I also have NO idea how you do it all, woman! You have super powers I swear.
Missy
thanks for delurking and for the sweet comment :)
I’ve never prepared lentils, but when I go to my favorite vegetarian Indian restaurant, they use lentils in almost everything. And I love them! The lentil donuts are my favorite.
I LOVE lentils. This is the type of dish that I would love but my husband would say, “Nice side dish–where’s the main course?” Do you ever have that issue with Scott?
If you loved Manwich as a kid (I did too) you have to try my vegan sloppy joe recipe–very Manwich-like, much more than the PPK recipe. Oh, I use barley instead of lentils, though. I like the texture barley gives. I hope you don’t mind me leaving the link here in case you are interested: https://happyhealthymama.com/?s=vegan+sloppy+joes
thanks for the link. if it’s closer to manwich than the ppk recipe, im all ears!
where’s the main course…well, 10 yrs ago, yes that would have been an issue but over the past decade+ meals have been transitioned. Here’s the thing, I am doing the groc shopping and the cooking and it’s not like i went from meat and potatoes to lentils all over night. It’s been…10 years. But now, it’s like, i am not going to spend money to buy meat for him or make him something else 90% of the time. He’s gonna get what i eat, or a version of what i eat, to minimize the short order cook issue.
Eat it or go hungry is also another approach :)
You made Indian food!!! I remember you saying you needed to try it. I think garam masala with tomatoes is a match made in heaven.
I know I said i am not a huge lentil fan, but the Snobby Joes are truly delish. I used to make them at least once a month. I took out some of the maple syrup, because they were a little sweet for me, but I think you’d love them as they are. Especially if you loved manwich. That brings me back. Wow.
well i left out CURRY, garlic, onions…which is key for me :)
thanks for LMK about the snobby’s. Not reducing the maple, kind of manwich, etc…i am so there!
I knew you’d have had manwich. It’s gotta be a staple in MN and WI i think!
I love dishes like this– adding raisins to Indian-style lentils is always SO tasty! That combo of sweet and savory really gets me!