Lentil Dhal – A Meatless Dish That Will Win You Over
·Onion and spices
Melt a spoonful of coconut oil in a large pot and fry the finely chopped onion. Add the finely minced garlic and ginger, stir, then add all the spices. Stir again and let everything sauté together for a minute.
Cook the lentils
Add the rinsed lentils and a whole can of tomatoes. Pour in water and season with salt. Cover with a lid and cook until the lentils are soft – this won't take long. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure there's enough liquid.
Stir in the coconut milk
Once the lentils are soft (and the liquid has mostly cooked away), stir in the coconut milk and season with cinnamon. Let it simmer for a little while longer.
Carrots and shrimp
Peel the carrots and slice them into rounds. Fry them in coconut oil, seasoning with salt and pepper. They should soften slightly but still stay crunchy. You can fry the shrimp in the same pan after removing the carrots to a plate – just season them with salt and pepper, that's all they need.
Serving
Top the dhal with the carrots, shrimp, chopped coriander, salad greens and sprouts, and finish with a squeeze of lime. Feel free to add crispy fried onions or extra fresh vegetables. Serve on its own, or with flatbread or rice on the side.