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Creamy Lentil Dhal

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This is honestly one of the best things I‘ve ever made. I really really enjoy that on chilly winter days when you want a hot bowl of something but also on warmer days because it also tastes great when it is enjoyed cold and it actually enhances the flavor when kept in the fridge overnight or for several days. This makes it super meal prep friendly. You can just store it and take it to work, school, or Uni whenever you need it. It is like that with every curry or heavily spiced dish, it only gains flavor when left for a day or a few.


So what is dhal?
Dhal is an Indian term that refers to split pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils. These legumes, how you call them in English, are staple foods in Indian cuisine. But dhak is also used to name several dishes, mostly soups. Traditionally there are tomatoes and onions as well as several other spices added. In Asia it usually is eaten with some flatbread or rice. 

Is it good for me?
I love curries. So much. But sometimes you just feel like having something heartier with more substance. Like this lentil dhal. Lentils are packed with protein and fiber but also lots of other vitamins. Plus there’s a good amount of spices in here which makes everything super flavorful. The veggies and potatoes add some more taste and the toppings take it next level. 


What is in this recipe?
So, I am not a traditional Indian, surprise, surprise, so I took a traditional dhal and added a few things.The star of the dish are red lentils. If you really do not like those, I would recommend using split peas. Besides that we have some onion, garlic, ginger, graham masala, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, paprika powder, bell pepper, carrot as a base. We sautée everything and then add vegetable stock. We add in some potatoes that are peeled and cut. I do not think that it is very traditional to add potatoes but I believe that they add an incredible comforting feeling to it and make everything more filling. Plus they add some nice texture. You could also opt for sweet potatoes instead if you prefer but yellow potatoes work a bit better. 

Next come the lentils. I do not pre soak mine or pre cook them because red lentils cook pretty fast. So we add them in after a while and let everything simmer. Once the lentils are soft, in goes some coconut milk. The coconut milk is essential. I would use full fat one since we have a lot of broth and with low fat ones, you won´t be able to achieve that creaminess. While everything simmers for a little, the flavors of the spices will get deeper into the curry and the lentils become a little bit mushy, which tastes so great. 

So that basically is the dhal, but what would it be without toppings? Let´s be honest, toppings take everything next level. We are cutting up a lime, of which we will squeeze the juice on the dhal after serving, garnish the dish with a little (plant based) yoghurt or more coconut milk, some fresh cilantro, sliced up spring onions and if wanted (but really good) some cashews or peanuts for extra crunch and extra tastiness. 

I would recommend to serve it over some rice or with naan bread. With either one you can soak up the liquid and it tastes super delicious!

Is it family friendly?

Yes! It definitely is! Not only that it is very versatile, as you can add in some ground chicken when stir frying the veggies or some grilled prawns on top, when including some animal products but it also it can be made more or less spicy, depending on who eats it. Moreover, it can be kept in the fridge for several days, so every member of the family can take it to school or work. 

I hope that you will enjoy making and eating this dish, and that you will love it as much as I do! It is such a great dish to enjoy all throughout the year, is super healthy and packed with tons of flavors!

Enjoy, 

Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

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Creamy Lentil Dhal

A super flavorful and warming dinner, that is super easy to make and incredibly delicious and healthy!

Course bowl, dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 15 Minuten
Cook Time 30 Minuten
Total Time 45 Minuten
Servings 4 servings
Calories 434 kcal

What you will need

Thats what you will need:

For the base:

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 4 cm ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp graham massala
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp paprika powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 carrot

The rest:

  • 500 g potatoes
  • 200 g lentils
  • 500 ml vegetable broth
  • 200 ml coconut milk

For servings:

  • some rice
  • some cilantro
  • cut up spring onions
  • yoghurt (plant based)
  • some nuts

How to

That is how it works:

  1. Finely dice uo the onion, garlic and ginger. In a pan heat up the oil. Once hot add the cut up veggies in. Sautee them for 2 minutes and then add the spices and sautee for another 2 minutes.

  2. Peel the carrot. Finely dine it and the bell pepper aswell. Add them to the pot and sautee for 2 minutes. Add the vegetable broth.

  3. Peel the potatoes and cout them into about 2 cm chunks. Once the broth boild, add the potatoes in and let everything cook for 10 minutes. Then add in the lentils and let everything boil for another 10 minutes.

  4. Next pour in the coconut milk and let everything simmer for another 5 minutes.

  5. Once ready, put it into bowls. Garnish with some yoghurt, cilantro, spring onions and cilantro.

  6. Serve and enjoy!

Miso Sweet Potato w/ Coconut Rice

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Is so incredibly addicting and satisfying, which is crazy! It’s just like miso black cod or anything sticky and sweet, just that it covers sweet potatoes. Plus, there is a curry vibe because we have some steamed coconut rice, aka rice boiled in coconut milk. Place both of these things in a bowl, sprinkle some nuts, and you will never wanna order takeout ever again.

No, I am serious, it really is good. I absolutely love miso, like a lot. I have always liked it, but then I went to a restaurant over Christmas break and had that black miso yuzu cod, and let me tell you, this was out of this world. So. Fricking. Good. I tried marking something similar to the miso at home for the sweet potatoes and I have to say that it did not turn out terribly, no definitely not. Although it is not quite the same, because I don’t know how the chef there made it, this was incredible, it is super delicious!

So before you ask yourself ‘what even is miso?’ I am going to give you a little information. Miso actually is a fermented soy pasta. You can buy it at most super markets or Asian markets. It is available in black and white. For this recipe, I used the black miso paste, but I am sure that the white one will work as well. Miso is mostly eaten in Japan, where also the popular miso soup is from. So, in this recipe we are using the same miso as in the soup, but prepare it differently.

To make the miso glazed sweet potatoes, we do not need a lot of things. Sweet potatoes, of course, cut into slices, some miso pasta, soy sauce, some sriracha or hot sauce, rice wine vinegar, agave or honey, a little lime juice, and if not vegan some fish sauce. This adds an extra touch but is not necessary. We combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and let the sweet potatoes marinate in there for about 30min-1h. If you do not have that time, then leave it out but I would still recommend you to do it. Once they are marinated, we grill them on a grill or you can also pan-fry them or even bake in the oven. Just do whatever sounds best to you.

So we have the main star of the show but we still need something to serve it with. And this something is coconut rice. Honestly, this is life changing. This coconut rice goes so incredibly well with anything, be it curry, stir fry, just some steamed vegetables or some chicken skewers. Anything Asian is perfect to be served with this. We make this rice by simply adding it to a pot. Next we add a mixture out of coconut milk and water and a generous pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil, reduce to very low heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Here you go, super easy but so much flavor. Honestly you will never skip this when making your next curry.

For serving, I like to put everything in a bowl, sprinkle with some cashews or peanuts, some fresh cilantro, some shredded coconut, and a lime wedge for decoration. This dish honestly is super good, and a great weeknight dinner. You can also meal prep it very well. For example make the sweet potatoes ahead of time and add them to salads or stir frys throughout the week.

I hope that you like this recipe and will enjoy making it!

Love Katie || Une Petite Cuisiniere

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Miso Sweet Potato with Coconut Rice

An addictively good twist on regular sweet potatoes served with steemed coconut rice on which you never want to miss out ever again. So good.

Course bowl, dinner, lunch
Cuisine asian, Japanese
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 20 Minuten
Total Time 1 Stunde
Servings 4 servings
Calories 546 kcal

What you will need

For the Miso Sweet Potatoes:

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp miso paste
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 Lime juiced
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tbsp honey or maple
  • 1-2 tbsp water
  • 1/2 tbsp sesame oil

For the Coconut Rice:

  • 250 g Rice
  • 200 ml Coconut Milk
  • 300 ml water
  • 1 tsp salt

For Garnish:

  • 2 handful greens can be any greens of your choice, I would recommend using fresh spinach or a salad mix
  • some cilantro
  • a few cashews or peanuts
  • lime wedges
  • coconut flakes.

How to

That’s how it works:

  1. Wash and peel the sweet potato if not having bought organic ones. In a Bowl mix all the ingredients for the sauce. Slice up the sweet potatoes into about 1cm thick slices. Place them in a bowl and pour over the sauce. Let marinate for about 30-60 minutes. If you do not have the time to do that, then pour over the sauce when grilling or cooking. 

    Meanwhile add the rice to a pot along with the coconut milk, water and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to very low heat, cover and let simmer for about 10-12 minutes. 

    Heat up a pan with a little sesame oil, or heat a grill brushed with olive oil, or preheat the oven to 200*C. If making in the pan or grill, fry on each side for about a minutes at medium to high heat. In the oven bake for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. 

    Separate the rice on the bowls. Add the fresh greens, top with the sweet potato and add some cilantro, cashews or peanuts, some more shredded coconut (optional) and a lime wedge to garnish. Serve and enjoy!


Coconut Curry Lentils

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This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy lentils. In a good and creamy coconut milk, spices, along with some rice, vegetables or bread! A definitely must try! 

When it is rainy outside and you just want some heat and comfort, this is great! It is for days when you don’t want a soup but don’t want meat, just something easy and good. Something as a quick weeknight dinner, that makes you feel awesome, boosts your mood and tastes bomb! The curry lentils are great for this occasion, because ether are super nutritious and packed with flavor and spices. 

A little bit about lentils…

When I made this the first time, I fell in love with it and it made me cook more often with lentils. Lentils are a real amazing food. They are Part of the legume family, along with beans and chickpeas. Lentils, that you can purchase at the supermarkets in Austria are often grown in Austria which makes them a regional product, which is better for the environment since it doesn’t need that much transportation. Moreover, lentils are packed with protein and nutrients! They contain 25g protein per 100g, which is real amazing, that is the same amount as chicken breast contains! They are really easy to cook, basically the same way you cook rice. If you are too lazy too cook them or need them to be done even quicker, you can find some canned ones at the supermarkets too! 

And the other ingredients

The onion and the spices in the beginning, just give the entire dish this kick of flavor. The onion adds the sweetness while the spices heat it up and give the oriental touch. I use dry spices and not curry paste because I believe that it works better with the lentils. To be honest, I have never tried it with curry paste before but if you do want to give it a try I would opt for a red one probably. 

The coconut milk creams up the entire dish and adds richness. I would go for normal canned options and not low fat ones because the flavor is different and it makes it all a little more hearty. Plus it takes it to the next (curry) level. I believe that a real good curry (at least Thai ones) need some coconut milk. The recipe I make is a mix of Thai and Indian, because Indians don’t use coconut milk but the dry spices, and Thai ones use coconut milk and curry paste. So it is a crossover! 

Perfect dish

No matter whether you make this dish for meal prep (because wir works great for that) or prepare it as a vegan Christmas dish or serve it at new year (because it is said that lentils bring money), it is a super delish meal to make. Perfect for friends or family that are vegan, and for those who are not. I hope that you will enjoy it and have a really nice Christmas! 

Enjoy,

Katie

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Coconut Curry Lentils

Comforting, warm, delicious, nutritious. The perfect winter dish, for christmas or new year, for vegan friends, or just to treat yourself! One of the best ways to cook lentils!

Course bowl, dinner, lunch, Main Course
Prep Time 3 Minuten
Cook Time 17 Minuten
Total Time 20 Minuten
Servings 2 servings
Calories 438 kcal

What you will need

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 white onion
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp paprika powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 120 g red lentils
  • 300 ml vegetable broth
  • 150 ml coconut milk
  • 2 tsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp harissa paste
  • 1 tsp peanut butter
  • some spinach or kale to stir in optional
  • some cilantro and peanuts to garnish

How to

Thats how it works:

  1. Finely dice up the onion. In a pot heat up the olive oil and add the onion in. Sauté it for a few minutes until it is all glassy. Then add in the spices and let them in cooperate well for about one minute. Next, pour the lentils into the pot and sauté them for a few seconds before you add the vegetable broth. 

  2. Once it boils, reduce it to a medium-low heat and let them simmer for 15 minutes. They should almost be done by now. Add in the tomato and harissa paste, the peanut butter and the coconut milk. Stir everything in until well combined and creamy. I wished, and on hand, stir in some extra spinach or kale.

  3. Place in bowls and garnish with some peanuts, some coriander and a little extra coconut milk. Serve over rice, vegetables or with bread and enjoy!

Thai Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup

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It’s finally soup season over here! October hasn’t been too much of a fall weather so far but now the temperatures are starting to drop. Finally! It’s time for comforting soups on cozy evenings in front of your TV in PJs! Couldn’t wait for that time of the year.

I love eating soups, they are so filling, warm, delicious and can be packed with so many nutrients. They are just like pasta, so versatile, just amazing. The first soup we usually make each year is a pumpkin cream soup with sausages. One of the best dishes my mom cooks! Or we go for a beef soup, which is a typical Austrian food and so delicious. We also make it for Christmas ever single year, and no one gets sick of it! 

When not making it for guests, it is such a perfect Sunday night dinner. An ideal meal to round up the week and enjoy while sitting together when it’s cold outside! This Thai Sweet Potato Cauliflower soup is a great dish for such an occasion but it also works great as a starter for guests or even for meal prep to take for lunch or enjoy for dinner. Jut make a big batch on the weekend and keep it in the fridge when enjoying within a week, you can just heat it up whenever you want, or freeze it in pre portioned containers so you can store them over moths and have it whenever you are craving it!

The soup is vegan, and only 9 ingredients! Isn’t that amazing?! It is super easy to make doesn’t ask for a lot of work! First you need to sauté the onion, ginger, and lemongras in the oil until glassy and soft. This already brings out such a nice smell and the glazing it at the beginning intensifies the flavor which makes an awesome soup later on. Next you add the chopped up sweet potato and cauliflower and let the roast for a few minutes. Once these are also coated in the oil it is time to pour over some vegetable stock and let it simmer. The vegetable stock gives it more density and more heartiness.

This should simmer for about 20 minutes but really until the sweet potatoes and cauliflower are soft, this can be easily tested by piecing through it with a fork! Then either blend it with a hand blender until creamy or if on hand, blend it with a high speed blender! I used my Kenwood blender which gave me a perfect result! If it is too thick, add a little more broth. The soup already smells so good it’s incredible! But honestly your entire house will smell amazing.

After it has been poured back into the pot, there is only one thing left to do. Add the coconut milk and stir it in. You can either serve it now or let it sit for later or freeze it right away. When serving it, top with some Resy cilantro if you wish and some more coconut milk. If you are not opting for a plant based version some Asian marinated chicken or prawn skewers would be a great addition but it also is really delicious as it is. Serve with some toasted croutons on the side and enjoy! 

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Thai Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup

A asian inspired soup that packs all the falll goodness. Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, Coconut milk. Perfect fall dinner and even vegan.

Course Appetizer, dinner, lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine asian, thai
Prep Time 15 Minuten
Cook Time 35 Minuten
Total Time 50 Minuten
Servings 4 people
Calories 371 kcal

What you will need

  • 2 tbsp oil neutral in taste
  • 1 white onion
  • 2 stalks lemongrass
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 4 cm Ginger
  • 500 g Sweet Potato
  • 500 g Cauliflower
  • 2 l vegetable stock
  • 250 m Coconut milk
  • cilantro for garnish

How to

That’s how it works:

  1. Finely mince up the onion and ginger. Remove the purest layer of the lemongrass and finely mince it too. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into about 1,5cm sized chunks. Also cut the cauliflower into smaller pieces. 

  2. In a large pot heat up the oil. Once hot add the onion, lemongrass and ginger. Let this glaze until see through and glassy. Meanwhile set up a second put with some vegetable broth, this can either be pre packaged or made with stock cubes, whatever you have on hand. 

  3. After about 2-3 minutes of glazing the vegetables add in the sweet potato and cauliflower. Let them roast for another 3-4 minutes until they are all coated with oil. Pour the vegetable stock over and let it all simmer for about 20 minutes. 

  4. The vegetables should be soft by now, simply test it by piecing through with a fork. Of not ready yet, continue for a little more. If ready, pour it into a high speed blender or blend it up with a hand blender until creamy and no chunks left. When not blended in the pot, pour it back into there now. Add the coconut milk.

  5. Serve it either right away or keep it on the stove until eating or freeze it right away if prepping it. When serving hernias with some fresh cilantro, a little more coconut milk, and some croutons on the side. 

Notes

Notes:
If making a big batch, it will last in the fridge for about a week. If wanting to keep it for longer, freeze it up to several months. 
Also, when not vegan or vegetarian, serve it with some Thai prawn or chicken skewers for some extra protein!