Simple red lentil dhal recipe

I really love lentils: they are just so versatile, but sometimes they fall off my menu because I (wrongly) associate them with long preparation time. In clinic this week, we had a lady who had a number of gastrointestinal issues which had lead her to exclude all grains from her diet, because she also had very little meat or fish in her diet, she was feeling very unsatisfied.  We suggested she try reintroducing red lentils, and gave her a simple dhal recipe to try.  It is full of flavour, deeply satisfying and takes no time at all. 

1 large red onion, finely chopped 
1 shallot, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, squished 1 thumb sized knob fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp turmeric, (or use a thumb sized knob of fresh grated)
1 tsp fennel seeds 
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp coriander seeds
3 cardamon pods
1 stick of cinnamon
1 large dried chilli, crumbled
250g red lentils, rinsed and drained
1 ltr of vegetable stock

Melt large knob of butter (or coconut oil) in a pan, add the red onion, shallot and garlic and gently cook until softened.
Add ginger, turmeric, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cardamon pods and cinnamon. 
Continue to cook gently allowing the spices to release their fragrance.
Add the red lentils and stir through onion mixture.
Cover with stock and reduce heat so that the lentils are gently simmering for 20-25 minutes. 
It may be necessary to add more water if the lentils look like they are drying out.

Serve as a side dish or main course.  If you have the willpower, it will store happily in the fridge for a few days where the flavours will intensify.

Nutritionally there is not much to say against this dish.  Red lentils are a good source of protein and fibre.  They are the most digestible lentils and do not need to be pre-soaked (although if you have a sensitive stomach then pre-soaking is recommended).   The use of turmeric, ginger and cinnamon mean that the recipe has anti-inflammatory properties and the sulphurous properties of the onion, shallot and garlic support the liver and one of its its detoxification pathways.