Vegan Lentils With Tomatoes and Tamarind - a Simple, Quick and Delicio

Sometimes I love spending a long time cooking a dish. Other times I enjoy a dish that I can put in the microwave or get delivered in a bag to my front door. For the times in between, there's dishes like my easy spiced lentils with tomatoes and tamarind.

This dish can be served plain or just with a naan bread, but I love to serve it over noodles or boiled rice. It makes a really filling vegan supper dish.

If you are looking for a recipe that uses lots of store cupboard ingredients, this might be the dish for you! OK, so you may or may not have asafoetida in your cupboard, but I recommend buying a jar and keeping it in your spice drawer. It adds a unique garlicky/onion flavour that you might recognise from Indian takeaways. Likewise, I do recommend buying a jar of tamarind paste.

Tamarind paste is made from the fruit of the Tamarind tree. Tamarind fruit grows in pods that resemble very large dried pea pods, and grows in Africa. It is used widely in Asian cuisine, notably savoury dishes, because it adds a delicious sweet/sour flavour that is really unique. I use Mahi's version, which you can find in Sainsbury.

In this particular dish, the sourness of the tamarind balances the sweet onions, the fresh tomatoes and the spicy curry powder, and creates an explosion of flavour of the tongue (apologies for the cliché).

• Lentils. I used chana dal, but you could use red split lentils or yellow lentils too. I wouldn't recommend puy because they have a flavour that is perhaps a bit too strong for this dish.
• Tomatoes. I use a mixture of fresh and canned. The fresh add texture, and the tinned make the dish "saucy". You could use all fresh, or all tinned.
• Mustard seeds. A classic ingredient in Indian spice mixes. Be careful when you put them in the hot oil as they will spit!
• Tamarind. You can buy the paste in the supermarkets, or order online. I keep mine in the fridge once opened and it lasts ages. You can use fresh lemon juice instead.
• Curry powder. I use whatever I have in the cupboard. The one I used for this recipe was a hot madras so I used it cautiously for heat!
• Chilis. I use red chilis from the supermarket, use your favourite types and judge the heat level you enjoy.
• Fresh coriander. Don't let a dislike of coriander put you off, you won't taste it overpoweringly in the finished dish. If you really must omit it, please use freshly chopped parsley instead.

• Make sure to rinse your lentils thoroughly, this avoids too much scum rising to the top. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. You may need to add more water, depending on the lentils. Skim off any additional scum.
• Simmer the lentils under soft and starting to fall apart. This could take upto an hour.
• Whilst the lentils are cooking, make your tomato/tamarind sauce.
• Heat the coconut oil until it starts to ripple on the surface, then add the asofoetida and mustard seeds. Fry for 30 seconds.
• Add the onions and chili and quickly turn down the heat. You want to saute the onions gently.
• Once golden brown and fragrant, add the tomatoes, curry powder, coriander and water. Bring up to a brisk bubble and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Stir in the tamarind then add to the lentils. NOTE: You don't need to drain the lentils.
• Bring the lentil and tomato mixture up to a gently simmer and cook for another 15 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning, adding more salt or tamarind if needed.
• Serve over noodles or boiled rice and sprinkle with shop-bought fried onions. I don't miss this step, the fried onions are so good!

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