Dr Mobeus
Red Lentil Dhal
Dhal is one of the most eaten dishes on the planet for good reason – it is cheap, nutritious and genuinely delicious. Red lentils cost about 65p for a 500g bag in most UK supermarkets and they cook in 20 minutes without any soaking. At 40p per portion this is about as cheap as a proper homemade meal gets. The spices do all the work here – turmeric gives it that golden colour, cumin adds warmth and the garam masala at the end brings everything together.
Total cost: £1.60 (£0.40 per portion) – Serves 4 people. Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 25 mins
Red Lentil Dhal
A simple, warming Indian dhal that costs under 50p a portion and feeds four. Red lentils cook in 20 minutes and create a thick, creamy curry that needs nothing more than rice or bread on the side.
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric and cumin. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the red lentils and water. Stir well and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have broken down into a thick, creamy mixture.
- Stir in the garam masala and season well with salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Serve topped with fresh coriander, with rice or naan bread on the side.
Tips and Variations
Red lentils do not need soaking – just rinse and cook. Add a chopped tomato or a spoon of tomato puree for a slightly richer flavour. This freezes brilliantly for up to 3 months. A dollop of natural yoghurt on top adds cooling contrast to the spices.
Is it cheaper to make this from scratch? Use our Cook vs Buy Calculator to compare the real cost of homemade vs shop-bought.
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