Lentil Curry

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 5 curry leaves
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 80g/2¾oz brown onions, finely chopped (about 1 medium onion)
• ½ tsp mild chilli powder
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 300g/10½oz red lentils
• 1.2 litres/2 pints warm water
• 80g/2¾oz tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp tamarind paste (or lemon juice)
• salt
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander, to garnish

Method

1. Place the garlic and curry leaves in a pestle and mortar. Crush to a coarse paste and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over a medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and, once they begin to pop, add the onions. Fry for 6 minutes until softened and then add the garlic and curry leaf mixture. Stir well, frying for 1 minute. Add the chilli powder and turmeric. Stir well and add the lentils and water. Season with salt and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes with a lid on, stirring halfway through.
3. Stir in the tomatoes and sugar and simmer for 5 minutes without the lid. Stir well, making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Mash the lentils lightly with the back of the spoon as it begins to thicken. Add a little water if required.
4. Add the tamarind paste and stir well. Garnish the lentil curry with coriander and serve with rice or chapatis.