Slow-Cooker Indian-Spiced Lentils

Slow-Cooker Indian-Spiced Lentils

Ingredients:

• Ingredients: 2 cups red lentils (in the bulk food section of Whole Foods or other major grocery stores)
• 10 ounces spinach (fresh and chopped or frozen and thawed)
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained (update: I use a 28 oz can and like it better)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger (use the real stuff!)
• 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you want to go vegetarian/vegan)
• 1 tablespoon curry powder or paste 
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• Juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
• Handful of chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish if desired

Instructions: 

Combine all ingredients except for the lemon (or lime) juice and cilantro in the pot of a slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours (or bring to a boil on the stove top and then simmer, covered, on low for 1 hour). Before serving, add the lemon juice and cilantro. This is delicious served over rice (we serve it with brown rice). This makes quite a bit - 8-10 servings.

Notes:

Jordan and I love Indian food! I am always looking for more tasty and filling meatless main courses and this one was great. We had it over brown rice and a side of naan bread. As I'm working hard to bring my iron levels back up before this birth, I was also grateful for the high iron content of lentils and spinach!  It has some spice but not too much; the boys all enjoyed it. (Well, little Jordo did need some bribing with some mandarin orange slices now and then, but that is normal). When we came home after our doctor's appointment and the boys could smell the lentils cooking Jacob said, "I can tell it's going to be yummy!" Also, for a tip on ginger, I peel it with a spoon and the grate it with the fine side of my grater. That seemed to work well. 

All the credit goes to ourbestbites again! http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/11/slow-cooker-indian-lentils/