The Experimental Mouffette: Lentils and Lima Bean Dahl

Thursday, December 9, 2021

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp vegetable oil

2 tsp brown mustard seeds

2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp dried chilli flakes

580ml (2 1/3 cups) water

1 large brown onion, chopped

2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger

200g (1 cup) brown lentils

1 300g can lima beans, rinsed, drained

250g pumpkin, deseeded, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup loosely packed chopped fresh coriander

Heat a saucepan over medium-low heat for 1 minute. Add the cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Remove cumin seeds from pan and set aside. Add oil to pan and then mustard seeds. Cook, stirring, until seeds begin to pop. Add ground coriander, turmeric and chilli flakes, and cook, stirring for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Stir in 80ml (1/3 cup) of the water with the cumin seeds, onion, garlic and ginger. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 10 minutes or until the onion softens.
Stir in remaining water and lentils. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in butter beans and pumpkin, and cook, almost covered, for 20 minutes or until lentils and pumpkin are tender and mixture is thick.
Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper. Stir in coriander.

The Experimental Mouffette