Jamaican Lentil Stew With Coconut

rsarahl's Note:

1 pot, 1 hour = simple, incredibly tasty vegetarian meal. Truly a delightful change from ordinary lentil stew or soup. Make sure you have a hunk of great bread to sop up the stew juices or you'll end up using your fingers! Add a salad for a complete meal.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 medium onion , minced
• 2 garlic cloves , pressed
• 1 inch piece gingerroot , grated
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 -2 teaspoon ground cumin (adjust according to taste)
• 1 (13 ounce) can coconut milk
• 1 liter vegetable stock
• 4 ounces split red lentils , washed and drained
• 1 small sweet potato
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• ½-1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste (optional)
• black pepper , to taste

Directions:

1. Make a thick paste by mashing ginger and garlic together using a pestle and mortar or a small bowl and the heel of a wooden spoon.
2. Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large saucepan, add the onion and saute until transparent.
3. Add the garlic ginger paste and saute another 2 minutes until fragrant; lower heat and stir constantly to avoid burning the paste.
4. Add the spices and saute for a minute more.
5. Stir in the coconut milk, stock, lentils, sweet potato and pumpkin puree.
6. Simmer over medium - low heat for 40 - 50 minutes or until sweet potato is soft and almost melting into the stew. Be sure to stir occasionaly.
7. Before serving, stir in the red curry paste if you are using it or adjust seasoning with black pepper.
8. NOTE: The stew has a creamy texture and is thick with lentils, sweet potato and pumpkin that melt into a delictable base. If you prefer a lighter soup then add more stock to thin the base, or try adding more cocount milk for a very savory and unique taste.

Reviews

[patticakes #3]

very nice. used vegy stock so it was all vegy. i followed the recipe pretty much except for using 2 yams.

[LizP]

This is absolutely divine! Honestly, I could eat it every day! I used lite coconut milk and PAM instead of oil for the veggies and spices and it worked just fine. I was concerned the curry paste would be too hot for my kiddos, so I used curry powder instead. So delicious! I made it last night and I am going out today to get the ingredients to make it again today, so I can have it for lunch all week!

[RubberDucky AU]

Made this for the second time, 5 stars both time. It's such a versatile and easy recipe. Didn't have sweet potato this time so used 500g frozen mixed veggies, didn't have veggie stock this time so chicken stock (not concerned about vegetarian) and no red curry so threw in some chili powder, oh and didn't have fresh ginger so used powdered! So in other words I truly stretched the boundaries, and still it was great. Mopped with a batch and a half of Pita Bread, while Cyclone Tomas madly hurled himself at our windows. This is truly lovely, I could eat this once a week, it's so comforting and delicious. Love this recipe, really, really, really love it. EDITED TO ADD: Five days later and I'm making a triple batch to freeze in lunch sized portions. This is fabulous cold (it thickens up) eaten with celery spoons. Used lite coconut cream - tastes great!