Red lentil and potato dhal

 I thought I might make this today, for the freezer, as an accompaniment to a meat based curry.  I've made it before and it was jolly tasty but this time, as I have fresh spuds to use up, that's what I will use. If they mush down, tough!  Also I will probably add some chilli as I have some frozen chillies from the garden.

Not too hot, I hope, but with plenty of flavour.

Ingredients:

1 smallish onion, peeled and finely chopped

a knob of butter

100g - ish of red lentils

4 or 5 value tinned potatoes, more if they are small, (they don't have to be value or tinned, of course, but that's what I used) finely diced.

Spice/seasonings:

1/2 tsp each of crushed garlic, crushed ginger, turmeric, garam masala

a good pinch each of cumin, coriander and cinnamon (all ground)

4 or 5 cardamom pods, slightly squashed with a knife blade

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp marigold bouillon powder

a little splash of white wine (needed using up) - optional

water

Method:

Melt the butter and saute the chopped onion gently until soft.  Add the potato and the red lentils and stir well.

Increase the heat a little and add all the spices.  Cook them out, stirring continuously.

Add the bay leaf, some salt and pepper, the marigold powder and some water to cover.

Bring to a simmer, almost cover and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until everything is very soft and thickened.  Add more water, if necessary.  Check the seasonings and add more water if necessary.  Long, slow cooking is the name of the game.

Before serving, remove the bay leaf and the cardamom pods (if you can find them)