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Recipes

A Hearty Recipe to Help You Forget About the Cold Winter

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at U Penn chapter.

It’s that time of year again…school’s out (for now) and the sun sets just a tad too early. The air is brisk and the windy is gusty. All you want to do is cuddle up on the couch with a warm blanket and a bowl of something delicious. Say no more- this vegan red lentil dahl recipe is quick, warm, and oh so delicious. Don’t be surprised if you catch yourself going back for thirds and fourths. With anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, this red lentil dahl will also keep you healthy through cold and flu season. Keeping with the health trend, red lentils are not only high in iron, but also high in protein, leaving you feeling full and satisfied all night long. To top it all off, this red lentil dahl is a one pot recipe, making it not only healthy, but easy to make! 

Red lentil and sweet potato dahl

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 35 minutesTotal time: 45 minutesServings:5 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Isabel Hebner

    Wash and cube the sweet potatoes into ¼ inch cubes,

    Peel and chop the ginger into pieces as small as possible

  2. Isabel Hebner

    Pour oil into pot, turn on high, and add sweet potatoes and ginger

  3. Sauté until sweet potatoes are fork tender

  4. Isabel Hebner

    Lower heat to medium and add curry powder, cumin, turmeric, and black pepper* to taste

    *pro tip- adding freshly ground black pepper with turmeric helps with the absorption of curcumin- the ingredient in turmeric that has anti-inflammatory benefits

  5. Sauté spices until fragrant

  6. Isabel Hebner

    Add veggie broth, lentils, and coconut milk to put and turn heat on high

  7. Isabel Hebner

    Bring pot to a boil and allow to boil for 3 minutes

  8. Isabel Hebner

    Lower to a simmer, partially place a lid over the pot, and allow to cook for 17-20 mins (or until lentils are fully cooked)

  9. Isabel Hebner

    Stir every 3 mins to prevent sticking to bottom of pan and add more broth if needed

  10. Isabel Hebner

    When the lentils are fully cooked, lower heat to lowest setting, add spinach, salt, and cayenne to taste

  11. Isabel Hebner

    Enjoy over rice, more sweet potatoes, or on its own!

I am a cross country and track and field athlete at UPenn and I LOVE all things food! I love spending my free time at farmers markets and supporting local eateries. I am always down to try the newest restaurants but do love the classics as well. If I'm not running or eating, you can probably find me at Whole Foods browsing the isles or at a book store checking out something new to read.