Coconut Curried Golden Lentils

Inspired

Moroccan Lentil Soup

Someone asked me for suggestions about lentils recently. She told me that she purchased them, but wasn't sure what to do with them and she felt like they were mocking her. I know the feeling because I have a bag of organic brown and wild rice that is currently mocking me. Here's what I made this afternoon;

Indian Lentils

My friend gave me this recipe and I have never once followed it precisely, but it tastes great every time.
1/2 c. lentils
3 c. water
1-2 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
dash ajama seeds
2 cloves
1-2 hot peppers, slit
1 onion
1 small tomato, blended
1/4 tsp ginger
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp crushed hot peppers
1 1/2 tsp sugar

Wash lentils then cook in the water and salt until tender and soft. You could a can of lentils instead if you want.
Heat oil, add the ingredients in the order listed, stirring as you go. You'll want to let the onions cook before you add the rest of the ingredients. Add the lentils and cook for about 7 or 10 minutes

Garnish with;
1 tbsp cilantro leaves
2 tbsp lemon juice

Serve hot with rice.

Lentil Soup

Motivated to clear my cupboard of extra dry goods I searched for a lentil soup recipe. Of course I didn't find one I liked, so I found one that came close and played with it. Here's what I came up with;