Fresh Spinach Dahl
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter I use salted
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion roughly chopped
- 1 medium shallot roughly chopped
- 1 large yellow bell pepper seeded and roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger or ginger paste
- 4 medium garlic cloves
- 1½ teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 5 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth maybe more
- 14.5 ounces light coconut milk I use light coconut milk
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 ounces fresh spinach leaves
- ½ cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped and firmly packed
- plain yogurt for garnish
- pickled red onions for garnish, if desired
- crispy French fried onions for garnish, if desired
Instructions
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Heat a medium-large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the oil and butter and heat until the butter is bubbly. Add the onion, shallots and bell pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the veggies have softened.
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Lower the heat a bit and add the ginger, garlic, garam masala, coriander and cumin. Stir to combine then cook for 1-2 minutes until very fragrant.
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Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, red lentils, sugar and salt.
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Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to a steady simmer. Cook for 20 minutes uncovered.
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Add the spinach and cilantro. Using an immersion blender, blitz to a purée with a hand blender or use a regular blender or food processor. If using a regular blender, make sure to vent the top to prevent pressure build-up.
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Return to the pan, if you used a regular blender or food processor, and bring the soup back to a simmer. If you prefer the soup a little thinner, add a bit more broth. Taste and season with more salt, if needed Serve with basmati or jasmine rice and garnish as desired .
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If using the crispy French fried onion rings, wrap the desired amount in several thicknesses of paper toweling and heat on high power in the microwave for 30-40 seconds until nice and hot.
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I like to drop small spoonfuls of yogurt onto the soup and swirl each one with a toothpick for a pretty presentation.
Recipe Notes
See Café Tips above in the post for more detailed instructions and tips to ensure success.
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