August 17, 2023
Slow Cooker Red Lentil Dal
Ingredients
- 576 grams red lentils (can use part yellow split peas or split mung beans, or a combination of two or more)
- 1.4L water
- One 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon turmeric
- 3 green cardamom pods
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoon each: cumin seeds, mustard seeds, onion seeds (nigella) and fenugreek seeds
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For serving:
- Hot cooked brown rice
- cilantro, optional
- extra onion and cumin seeds, optional
- fresh lemon juice, optional
Method
- Place red lentils and yellow split peas into a large bowl and cover with water. Let soak for a few minutes and swish to wash the lentils and split peas. Drain well and rinse. Place in a slow cooker and add the 6 cups water. Add the diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cardamom pods, bay leaf, salt and black pepper.
- Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add all of the seeds to the pan. Shake the pan while on the heat, or use a wooden spoon to stir, while toasting the seeds. When they smell fragrant, remove from heat and transfer to the slow cooker. (It will probably bubble up a bit as the hot seed hit the liquid.) Stir well to combine all ingredients. Place lid on slow cooker and let cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours.
- Remove lid after cooking time and stir. Taste and if lentils are not soft, cook for another 30-60 minutes, if needed. Add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- To serve – Ladle the dal over brown rice and top with a squeeze of fresh lemon, cilantro, and more seeds, if desired.
NOTES
Be careful not to toast the seeds for too long or the dal may become bitter. For a lighter flavor, use half as much of the fenugreek.
If onion seeds cannot be found, it’s fine to leave them out. The same for the fenugreek. The mustard and cumin seeds are fairly easy to find.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Yield: 10 - 12 serves
Ingredients 2 cups broccoli (finely chopped, raw) 2 cups kale (finely chopped, stems removed for best texture) 1 cup broccoli sprouts 200g chicken thigh fillets (trimmed & cooked) ¼ cup almonds (roughly chopped) ¼ cup sunflower seeds ¼ cup feta cheese (optional) 2 tbsp red onion (finely diced) Sulforaphane-Boosting Dressing ½ cup Greek yogurt 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp whole mustard seeds OR ½ tsp mustard powder 1 tbsp hemp seeds 1 tsp honey (optional) Salt & pepper to taste Method Step one - Cook The Chicken Season and cook thigh fillets until golden and cooked through. Rest, then slice. Step two - Chop your greens Finely chop broccoli and kale. Step Three - Activate the sulforaphane Let the chopped broccoli sit for 5–10 minutes before mixing . Step four - Massage the kale Add a pinch of salt and massage for 1–2 minutes until softened. Step five - Combine salad Add broccoli, kale , broccoli sprouts, chicken, almonds, sunflower seeds, feta, and onion. Step six - Make the dressing Whisk everything together until creamy. Step seven - Toss & serve Mix well and let sit 5–10 minutes for best flavour. Nutritional Information & Cooking Times Serves: 2-3 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 12 - 15 minutes 460 kcal | 20g Fat | 38g Protein | 15g Carbohydrates
Ingredients 700–800g chicken breast (raw) 2 cups cooked lentils 3–4 small beetroot (about 400g total) 6–8 cups rocket (arugula) or spinach 2 cucumbers (sliced) 1 small red onion (thinly sliced) 2 tsp olive oil (total) Juice of 1–2 lemons Spice rub 2 tsp turmeric 2 tsp paprika 3 garlic cloves (minced) Salt + black pepper Method Step one - Cook The Chicken Coat chicken with spices and garlic. Grill, bake, or pan-cook with minimal oil until cooked through. Slice. Step two - Prepare The Beetroot Roast at 200°C for ~30–40 min (or use pre-cooked), then slice. Step Three - Build The Bowl Divide greens, lentils, beetroot, cucumber, and onion across 4 bowls. Top with protein Add sliced chicken evenly. Step four - Dress It Lightly Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice over each bowl. Step five - Serve & Enjoy Toss lightly if desired, or keep layered for presentation. Serve immediately while the chicken is warm for the best flavour. Nutritional Information & Cooking Times Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35 - 40 minutes 450 kcal | 7g Fat | 53g Protein | 37g Carbohydrates
Ingredients 100g smoked salmon ½ large avocado, sliced 2 boiled eggs (soft or hard, halved) 1 cup baby spinach or mixed leafy greens ½ cup cucumber, sliced ¼ cup asparagus (lightly steamed or raw shaved) 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (optional) Salt & black pepper to taste Fresh dill or parsley (optional) Method Step one - Boil the eggs Bring water to a boil, add eggs and cook: 6–7 min for soft-boiled / 9–10 min for hard-boiled. Cool, peel, and halve Step two - Prepare greens Wash and dry spinach/greens, place in bowl. Step Three - Prep veggies Slice avocado and cucumber. Lightly steam asparagus if desired. Step four - Assemble bowl Arrange smoked salmon, eggs, avocado, cucumber, and asparagus over greens. Step five - Dress it Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. Step six - Finish & serve Add herbs and pumpkin seeds, then serve. Nutritional Information & Cooking Times Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 7–9 minutes (for boiling eggs + optional asparagus) Total time: ~15–18 minutes 620 kcal | 48g Fat | 37g Protein | 11g Carbohydrates