Monday, June 20, 2016

Red lentil and coconut dhal


I like to spoil myself for lunch and cook yummy stuff just for me. Some days I need to be kind to myself, to treat myself well. Be comforted with something warming and healthy. It's also a perfect accompaniment to these bitey winter days.  

The bonus is it tastes satisfyingly good. The kids wouldn't touch this with a barge pole though. No one in this house appreciates my cooking finesse! That's OK, more for me, they can eat boring nuggets or sausages (which they would have no complaints about)!

I appreciate the days Summer and Izzy are at school and kindy. I need those days to catch up. To calm the overwhelm. I am in a state of tenseness (mainly in my shoulders) most of the time. 

In the last six years I haven't had a break away on my own. A break from being a mum, a wife and housekeeper. It's taking a toll on me. I need a weekend away by myself. No kids, no husband. Just me. 

Finding that weekend seems near impossible any time soon. I just have to keep plugging away and savouring the breaks where I get them. I need to nourish myself well, mind and body. I have too many people to care for and no one to look after me. Except me. So I need to do a bloody good job!

A recent course I undertook, to do with food and health, encouraged you to eat as many different ingredients in a day as you could. About 25 - 30 different foods was the recommendation for obtaining as many nutrients as possible from natural sources. 

This recipe has more than ten, so it's a good start to reaching that goal, along with a great breakfast and evening meal filled with healthy natural foods.




Red lentil and coconut dhal

1 medium onion, chopped finely
1 stick celery, sliced
2 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons finely grated ginger
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons cumin
1 star anise
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
1 fresh green chilli
3 cups water
375 gram packet of dried red lentils
1 can coconut milk
500 grams diced pumpkin

Fry onion and celery in oil over a medium heat until onion is transparent.

Add garlic, ginger, cumin, star anise, coriander, turmeric and chilli, stir for one minute.

Stir in lentils and coconut milk, bring to boil.

Reduce heat, stir in pumpkin and simmer covered until lentils and pumpkin are tender, about 25 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper.

I like to serve it with a dollop of natural yogurt, fresh coriander and mint scattered on top.

  • Remember not to eat the star anise, it's not that palatable, however I don't mind chewing on it to get the flavour out of it and then spitting it out. It's not for everybody.
  • Instead of pumpkin, try other veggies like eggplant, zucchini or sweet potato. Even carrots, broccoli and peas!
  • Keep peeled ginger in the freezer. It won't perish in the bottom of the fridge and is easy to grate when frozen and pop the rest back in the freezer for another time.
  • I also freeze any herbs that are threatening to turn feral in the fridge, like coriander. The stalks give so much flavour to soups and casseroles. You'll be saving money too by keeping it for later.






14 comments:

  1. I have a vegetarian teen - this could be perfect!

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    1. Yummy too! If you add a can of kidney beans, adds lots more nutrients.

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  2. If I lived closer, I would come over and enjoy this lunch with you. It looks delicious! Shame no-one shares your yummy meal with you.

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    1. You would me most welcome! I'd love the company too! I love to share food and I don't do it enough.

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  3. I hope you get to have your much needed break soon! If you can't take a whole weekend maybe try to fit a tension relieving massage in.

    This recipe sounds delicious! Your kids don't know what they're missing out on!

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    1. That weekend will come. I'll be grabbing it with both hands!

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  4. I love Red Lentil & Coconut Dahl... doesn't please everyone either... tough! It is so important to look after you first. Only when our cup is full to overflowing can we then be there for others. Like you Alicia, I also carry the stresses of life on my shoulders! You're doing a superb job :D Hugs xxxs

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    1. Thank you heart. I was only thinking this morning I need to listen to your meditative sound recording more than I do x

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  5. Oh that looks good! And I know just what you mean about the tension in your shoulders - unfortunately that's my stress spot too :( Like you, I keep saying one day I'll have that weekend away solo - just sounds so nurturing to me. I saw Bulk Whole Foods on your sidebar - one has just opened near me; must check it out x

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  6. Oh how happy it makes me to see that you are noticing that you need care and that you are doing something about it...so many of us do not and wonder why we get sick. I think being a mum is unrelenting and even though mine flew the nest decades ago I still can feel the pull of care even though it is not required...What else can you do to help those shoulders relax? I use a heat pack around mine sometimes and that is both comforting and calming. XXX

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    1. I do have a wheat bag, and you know I use it less than anybody. Always thinking of myself last.... Warming it up now x

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  7. This looks divine. My kind of meal. My family wouldn't touch it (maybe my daughter0 but that means more for me.

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    1. You should treat yourself for lunch. Lunch the next day and the next! It really does get better the next day 😊

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  8. This looks like the perfect wintery dish. I wonder if I could get my kids too eat it? x

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