Cheap daal curry (& good for you!)

TRAVELMAN_2 · 23 August 2004 at 9:50PM

An excursion from my normal home on travel on this site (!)

For an inexpensive HEALTHY & QUICK meal for 2 GREEDY people (!)-trow a carge cup of red split lentils in to a big pan-ad 1 -1 1/2tsp salt (low sodium if health concious!) 2 chopped onions, 4-6 cloves garlic crushed, 1 heaped desertspoon crushed ginger (if lazy these can be bought in jars!), 2 big squirts of tomato puree, pinch sugar & 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Simmer uncovered until like 'thick porridge'. Check for seasoning & add more salt/sugar if needed.

In a separate pan heat some margarine/vegetable ghee/butter/oil (NOT olive)-if feeling saintly just use a teaspoon or 2-but you can use 2-3 tablespoons if you want (something I prefer but just as tasty with less-slightly different texture) till medium hot-fry a small finely chopped onion till DARK brown then add 2 teaspoons GARAM MASALA & as much/little chilli powder (NOT vhilli con carne mix but ground chilli pepper)-cook for 30 secs stirring all the time-stir in to lentils-job done-lovely meal -healthy, CHEAP !

Can be varied by adding a bit of cremed coconut at the beginnig, fresh chopped coriander at the end, stir in some yoghurt at the end....etc....

Eat it with plain yogurt & chapattis (doddle to make but you can buy them ready done)-hey presto meal for 2 for about 40 p a head-& you get the health benefits of the garlic/onion & chilli (speeds up metabolic rate) &, if eaten with wholemeal chapatti it's fairly low GI for those who follow this plan!

Happy eating!

Chris

rach · 23 August 2004 at 11:37PM

you're making my hungry....just realised i haven't eaten dinner yet!!!

these kind of meals are great - can be varied by using diff kinds of lentils, beans etc.

another great one is to buy a packet of dried mixed beans or soup mix (morrisons do a great one for about 45p), soak over night, then cook with a tin of tomatoes and some onions and chilli powder or fresh chillis...makes a gorgeous, healthy and cheap vege chilli.

cathy_3 · 24 August 2004 at 3:52AM

ooh that sounds dehvinnnnne !!!

16011996 · 24 August 2004 at 11:26AM

drooling, they should have a smiley for that.

16011996 · 24 August 2004 at 11:39AM

ooh yes, thats the one.

Caterina · 26 August 2004 at 5:22PM

And if you live near an Indian supermarket you can often buy a 20KG sack of broken Basmati rice at around £7 or 8. It tastes just like unbroken basmati only it has a little bit more starch so it needs washing a few more times. It is delicious with Dal curry (or any curry for the matter)!

Caterina

16011996 · 26 August 2004 at 9:05PM

can't find an indian supermarket near me. can;t find an indian these days.

Caterina · 27 August 2004 at 12:30AM

Sometimes Chinese or African supermarkets also have it (but more expensive for some reasons)

I live in SE London so I have plenty of 'ethnic' shops around! Maybe I should start a trade hehehehe

Caterina