This is actually quite an old article I shared back in 2018, which was part of a cooking competition. You can check the original post from my site, or the STEEM or HIVE blockchain. (We could cross post at the time; and HIVE was later re-broadcast there to make sure I don't loose my recipe)

Ok, the Capati (flat bread) wasn't made by me; but the lentils broth by the side was. 

Have you ever felt that you wish you could sooth a weary soul with a warm broth, especially when you are a more mother-ly character fueled? 

This was how I felt when I saw a young girl, full of trails in her real life and mind challenges, would really want to encourage her with something warmth.

And one of her favourite would be Dhaal a.k.a lentils broth.

But I didn't have enough ingredients to do a usual one; so I made with the ingredients I had with me.

Plus... it was a great time to clear the fridge with frozen vegetables

The Base Ingredients

• Yellow Dal (either pigeon pea or skinned mung bean) ,
• frozen vegetables (comprises with carrots, green peas and corn),
• White Onions finely chopped.

And I had another additional ingredient to thicken the broth

Surprisingly, unlike yellow lentils which is mostly really hard and requires hours of simmering to soften / use a pressure cooker to speed things up, Red Lentils are a lot easier to cook and softens faster in order to create a thicker stew-like broth with the vegetable ingredients in.

If you use yellow lentils only you could take a REALLY LONG TIME to thicken the broth and it can still taste quite coarse, and red lentils will be the one come to the rescue.

Other ingredients?

• Indian mixed spice (1 teaspoon)
• 1 dried full shaped Star Anise (Illicium verum),
• 1 cinnamon stick (not too huge),
• 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• Vegetable Stock (for vegans) / chicken stock,
• Himalayan rock salt and pepper to taste.

How did it go?

It actually turned out pretty yummy like a vegetable broth, unfortunately the Yellow Dal was still quite coarse. 

Maybe I should have removed the skins when I first boil the Yellow Dal...

I had to get it to a boil again in order to make it softer; or even blend it?

And relied on a thermal cooker to slowly simmer it over night in order for it to make it better.

I COULD however use slow cooker to simmer it on high setting, but that could burnt it dry if I let it go overnight; while automated mode doesn't help. 

Besides, thermal cooker is much more eco-friendly.

End take?

It was my first try, and it still turned out pretty good at the end - just a different version of Dhaal from the regular version where you actually have more White radish, Potatoes, and dried chili. 

So what do you think? Would you give that a try of a vegetable Lentils Broth ?

Do comment with your link below if you have tried it yourself and I can come over to read your sharing!

Until Then

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Wash Your Hands!