Real creativity comes at the end of the grocery shopping cycle when you have run out of food. Today, that happened to me. I decided to throw the odds and ends into a dahl. So, here is what I did...
1 c lentils (I used red)
3 c water
2 tsp minced garlic
2 green onions (I was out of regular ones. I know they aren't remotely
similar, but I'd rather use them than have to throw them out.
1/2 can tomatoes
1 broccoli stalk (into florets)
1 zucchini
handful of frozen/stir fry veggies
some frozen peas
Spices:
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Ground Coriander
sprinkle of curry powder
sprinkle of red pepper
(Curry powder could probably substitute all of those if you only have that on hand)
Put the lentils and 1 green onion in a medium sauce pan with the
water. Bring to a boil then let simmer. Cook until soft (10 minutes,
20 minutes).
Meanwhile, heat some oil in a wok/pan. Add the garlic, rest of the
green onions, and the spices. Heat until fragrant. Add the broccoli,
frozen stir-fry veggies, and tomatoes.
Heat veggies, don't overcook. Pour lentil mixture into the wok with
the veggies and mix together. Cover and let simmer (at a low temperature so it doesn't burn to the bottom!) for at least 15-20
minutes (my cookbook said 45, seemed extreme). Throw in the frozen
peas and zucchini and cook for another 10 minutes or until all the
veggies are done. Stir occasionally throughout.
I also threw in a handful of spinach at the very end.
This can be done with anything. I deviated from the recipe hard core. The lentils were instead of yellow split peas, the broccoli and stir-fry mix was in place of eggplants, carrots, and cauliflower. So, it is a stew, just throw anything in!
I paired this with some thinly sliced tofu that I coated in peanut sauce and had baking in my toaster-oven.
Yum yum.
