Recipe Contest - Baraboo School District - Vegan Curry Lentils

I'm entering a healthy recipe contest for Baraboo School District, and wanted to post the recipe here on my blog.

This is an easy to prepare meal, that I make at least once a week. It keeps well, and I will put leftovers into Tupperware and bring to school for lunch. This recipe is free of the 7 major inflammatory foods, which include 1. Added Sugar or artificial sweeteners 2. Corn 3. Gluten 4. Dairy 5. Eggs 6. Peanuts 7. Soy.

*I am not allergic to any of the above foods, but I find that my body responds very well to a lifestyle that does not include any of the 7 foods listed above.



Curried Lentils
This vegan lentil curry is absolutely amazing, it’s a simple and easy recipe, but it takes time, although it’s totally worth it. It’s also exotic, spicy, tasty, creamy and it has an intense coconut flavor. If you like curry, lentils and coconut, you need to try this recipe!

Ingredients

The ingredients. Missing is a can of coconut milk. 

• 1 cup lentils
• 1 cup brown basmati rice
• 2 cloves of garlic
• ½ onion
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 16 ounces tomato sauce 
• ⅔ cup coconut milk 
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 teaspoons curry
• 1 Sweet Potato

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cook lentils according to package. I used La Preferida brand, and cooked the entire package in 5 cups of water. Bring the lentils and water to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer for around 30 minutes. Drain and set aside
2.  Chop the sweet potato into bite size pieces in olive oil, until the pieces are cooked through.
3. Cook the Basmati Rice according to the directions. I brought 1 1/2 cups of rice and 3 cups of water to a boil, and then simmered until it was done.
4. Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Add the garlic and the onion (finely chopped) and cook them until golden brown. Add the tomato sauce, coconut milk and spices and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
5. Add cooked lentils, stir and cook for at least 15 or 20 minutes over medium heat.
6. Cook basmati rice according to package directions. We cooked them for 12 minutes over medium high heat. Drain and set aside.
7. Serve the lentils over the basmati rice. You can add cilantro on top.

Getting the party started!

The lentils are cooked and set aside, and now I am starting the onion and garlic

This is where the magic happens - coconut milk!

Garam masala is a mixture of spices common in Indian cuisine. I couldn't find it in Baraboo, You could get it at Maharaja Grocery in Madison, but I ordered this brand from Amazon:

getting ready to add the lentils

The Finished Dish - Enjoy!