Madras Lentils

Madras Lentils

This Madras Lentils recipe is an easy, delicious vegetarian curry with a combination of lentils and kidney beans in a crazy-delicious tomato cream sauce.

Yield
4 servings

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 4 tbsp butter or ghee
  • 1 large onion (finely chopped (340 g/12 oz)
  • 2 tsp kosher salt (divided use)
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds (or 1 tsp ground)
  • 1 minced jalapeno
  • 3 tbsp minced garlic (9 large cloves garlic)
  • 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
  • 1 tsp cayenne powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 18 oz can brown lentils (drained)
  • 1 18 oz can red kidney beans (drained)
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Heat oil and butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and 1 tsp of the salt. Cook until onion is soft and golden, about 10 minutes (longer if onion was fridge-cold or not super-finely chopped). Stir frequently and reduce heat if it starts charring. It should be translucent and almost caramelized.

  2. Reduce heat to medium and stir in cumin seeds, cooking until they smell fragrant (about a minute).

  3. Add jalapeno, garlic, ginger, cayenne and turmeric and cook a minute more.

  4. Add tomato paste and cook a few minutes until it turns a shade darker and the oil shimmers on top.

  5. Stir in the water, lentils, beans, cream and remaining 1 tsp salt.

  6. Reduce heat to low simmer, covered, at least 10 minutes. (If you have time to simmer longer, the flavour gets even better with time. Use 1 cup water instead of ½ cup because it will thicken up quite a bit, then simmer up to 1 hour, stirring every now and then.)

  7. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories304
Fat30
Saturated fat15
Trans fat0.5
Unsaturated fat13
Cholesterol64
Sodium1332
Carbohydrates9
Fiber1
Sugar3
Protein3

Original recipe