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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Lentils and Potatoes with Curry

I was flipping through some cookbooks this afternoon...as I'm wont to do...searching for something I could make with ingredients that I already had in house.  Do you do that?  I go with something I have, say chickpeas or green beans or tofu...and then hit the indices of a big stack of books.  Comparing items I have...or could adapt...or draw inspiration from.  Sometimes completely striking out...other times hitting pay dirt.  I was searching lentils this particular day (yesterday)...looking for something to eat for dinner that would have enough leftovers for me to pack into my lunchbox for our trip up to meet my mom tomorrow (today by now).  I found a dish that caught my fancy...for which I also had all the components in the pantry or fridge...and this comforting, belly-filling, heat-creeping dish was on the stove in minutes flat.  Don't ask me how many minutes...just minutes.  Minutes flat.  I guess it sounds strange to leave out the actual number if you're using that phrase.  So, we'll say... I had it on the stove in 4 minutes flat! 

Lentils and Potatoes with Curry
from HTCEV by Mark Bittman

1 c. dried brown lentils, washed and picked over
3½  c. homemade coconut milk (or water or veg stock)
1 Tbs. homemade curry powder
2 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
salt and freshly ground black pepper
yogurt and cilantro leaves for garnish

Combine the lentils, liquid, and curry powder in a medium saucepan and bring to boil over med-high heat. Turn heat down to med-low, so it bubbles gently, then partially cover and cook ~15 mins., until lentils start to absorb liquid a bit.

Add potatoes and cover pan completely.  Cook, undisturbed, for 10 mins. or so, then stir gently.  If lentils seem too dry, add a bit more liquid. Add some salt as the lentils become tender.

Cover and continue to cook until lentils are soft and beginning to turn to mush and potatoes are tender at center, 5-10 mins.  Add liquid if necessary...should be moist, but not soupy.  Add lots of black pepper, then stir, taste, and adjust seasonings as necessary.  Serve garnished w/ yogurt & cilantro.
 ...and yes, there was enough left over to pack into my lunch box for the roadtrip today that I'm currently on and I'm betting it's tasting even better after sitting a night.  Flavors having time to get to know each other and co-habitate and all.  The theme this week at IHCC is LunchBox...like the way I worked that in? Ha!  It's the honest to goodness truth, though...I'm probably stuffing my face as you read this...

This post is linked to....
IHCC cookbook sundays Hey What's For Dinner MyMeatlessMondays MLLA26
*Check out past & future MLLA hosts over at The Well-Seasoned Cook!

Would you like to comment?

  1. Çok leziz, çok şık, çok iÅŸtah açıcı görĂ¼nĂ¼yor. Ellerinize, emeÄŸinize saÄŸlık.

    Saygılarımla

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  2. All my favorites all together??? Oh, I have to make this SOON!!!

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  3. I always look for recipes, either based on what I have in the house, or things that I can cheaply buy. I just found an inexpensive recipe for lentils I'm really excited about, as I've never had them. But I love beans. This looks delicious!

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  4. Your car must be filled with curry goodness by now. This recipe actually reminded me of my good friend in FL. She cooked a similar dish for us every time she invited us over, and she served it with nan. I like it tho that you put the yogurt over it,I always had it on the side..

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  5. lentils and potato lovely combination

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  6. Delish! These cooler evenings have me thinking about curry - this is one of our favourite kinds of meals.
    Have fun on your trip!

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  7. Lentil with potato looks very nice..
    I like the combination of your ingredients n spices ..lovely presentation as well:)

    http://usmasala.blogspot.com/

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  8. Estupenda forma de comer las lentejas, me apunto tu receta para probar.

    Saludos

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  9. Definitely, a great lunchbox. I like the yogurt on top. Have a safe trip. Thank you for your contribution.

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  10. Yes, I do the book search too and just this week I told Alexis, "It would be GREAT if I could just Google search a term in all of my cookbooks." The indexes aren't always so great.

    I haven't cooked much with lentils but will be doing more of them this fall.

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  11. All my favourites too. What a great combination and what a yummy lunchbox! Thanks for linking this to Cookbook Sundays Heather. Sorry I got it up so late today, I overslept, something I rarely do. Have a fun day with your Mom!

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  12. I love it Heather! This was actually one of the first dishes that I made when we changed over to Mark Bittman and it was probably my favorite. I loved how comforting and filling it was. Total satisfaction:)

    Hope you have a great visit with mom!

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  13. I definitely do this on occasion, especially when I have random ingredients that I need to use up! Bittman is the best for times like those since his recipes are so simple. What a great dish! I love me some lentils.

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  14. Hi Girlchef,

    I'm really happy I stopped by today for a visit. I found you through a mutual blogger, Pam's Midwest Kitchen. She and I are both from Colorado and I admire her blog very much.

    Not surprising, that she had you in her followers list...you're blog is lovely too!! TI adore curry and lentels and this recipe looks fantastic! True comfort food for me!

    I hope you get the chance to stop by my blog. All coments and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

    Hugs from Colorado,
    Rebecka

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  15. Wonderful meatless comfort food...and made with pantry staples too. This will probably end up as one of my healthful lunches I've resolved to pack every day. Thanks!

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  16. I like the minutes flat! I too will find a recipe to use what I have on hand...and I try to have good things on hand too! :D This looks and sounds super good!

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  17. What a winning combination. And then the dollop of yogurt has me yearning. Rodtrip?

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  18. Hi,

    Lovely preparation and great clicks!!!

    Sameena@

    www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

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  19. Lentils, potato and curry--no better comfort food. It looks delicious and it's a great pick for the lunch box too. ;-)

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  20. That looks like the perfect fall meal!

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  21. Sounds great for Meatless Monday

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  22. I always think ewww lentils but then see something like this recipe and go mmmmmmm looks good. I don't know why my initial reaction is so negative but it is, this however is grand!

    Thanks for linking up to Just Another Meatless Monday, can't wait to see what's in your lunchbox next week!

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  23. I love potatoes and lentils and curry. It is cold and rainy right now and I wish I had a really big bowl of this.

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  24. I had to laugh when you asked about basing our meals on what we have,hanging around, and then searching for that particular food or foods. I do it, all the time. How would we eat?

    I actually shop that way. I get certain veggies and figure I will come up with something. So, acorn squash, butternut squash, eggplant, zucchini, English cuke, tomatoes when not in season, onions, etc. go into the basket and since we have cut back on meat, they make up the main course. I find it a challenge and fun.

    Now for your recipe. This will be soothing and warming, in the winter. It sounds like a great combination.

    Thanks for linking to My Meatless Mondays.

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  25. Okay that's it I am making this for my dinner tonight. I was planning on taking some ravioli out of the freezer for myself, while I gave my partner some leftover pork chops, but as I have everything on hand for this it sounds just perfect. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Sue

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  26. Lentils with coconut are irresistible, and i am very impressed by your home-made coconut milk. A great dish!

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  27. The spices you have used...this curry must be so good!

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  28. Loving this recipe, so bookmarked :)

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  29. Just wanted to let you know that, thanks to your inspiration, I made this last week and it was a real winner - will definitely become a regular staple for me now. Thanks.
    Sue

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