Curry Vegetables and Lentil Rice Recipe

A one-skillet dish, Curry Vegetables and Lentil Rice has bold, Indian-inspired flavors.

Curry Vegetables and Lentil Rice

The Orono Farmers’ Market was loaded with greens last Saturday. Bags stuffed full with diminutive leaves of baby Swiss chard and beet greens. Big heads of lettuce — some curly, some smoother. Bunches of firm kale leaves in different varieties. And lots of radishes in a spectrum of hues.

The stalls loaded with greens are a sign that the lush variety of summer produce isn’t far behind. I picked up some baby beets with the greens attached, and took them home to saute with spring onions, garlic and carrots for a lunchtime side dish that day. It needed only a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and it was perfect — fresh and bold.

I love when the summer harvest comes to the farmers market. Every week is a little different, and I wait until I see what’s there to decide what we’ll eat for the week. It’s in-season eating at its best.

At Orono on Saturday, I picked up spinach, lettuce, baby greens and a few varieties of radishes. I also bought some carrots that went into both the sauteed beer dish and the curry dish that I am sharing with this week’s column.

Are you a fan of curries? I am. From the coconut milk-laced Thai curries to flavorful Indian curries, I adore the bold, nuanced flavors of them.

Diced Onions and Carrots

This vegetarian main dish is an Indian curry, where the blend of spices mix with lentils, rice and lots of veggies — carrots, onions and peas. Finished off with some fresh cilantro, it’s warm and filling. The seasonings in this include ginger and garlic, along with dried spices — cumin and garam masala, a spice blend.

Look for garam masala in the spice section of the grocery store. McCormick makes a version. So does Simply Organic and Frontier. If it’s not there, check the ethnic section. Also, I am reasonably certain you can find it at the Natural Living Center in Bangor, Whole Foods and Trader Joes in Portland. You can also order it online from Amazon, Penzey’s Spices and other retailers. But, in a pinch, you could substitute curry powder — though the flavor will be different (and might be spicier).

The next Orono Farmers’ Market will be held on Saturday in the Steam Plant Parking Lot from 8 a.m. to noon.

Curry Vegetable and Lentil Rice

Curry Vegetables and Lentil Rice
Serves: serves 4
 
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 cup diced fresh carrots
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger root
  • ½ cup dried lentils, rinsed
  • 2½ cups water
  • ½ cup basmati rice
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 tbsp lightly chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
  1. In a medium skillet set over medium heat, heat the oil. Once hot, add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring frequently, until softened -- about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic and ginger to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cook for 3-5 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the lentils and toast for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the water to the skillet and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
  4. Stir the rice into the skillet until moistened, and then stir in the peas as well. Season with garam masala, cumin and salt. Cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Remove from heat, stir and taste. Season with additional salt, as needed.
  6. Sprinkle with cilantro just before serving

 

Recipe for Curry Vegetables and Lentil Rice

Sarah Walker Caron

About Sarah Walker Caron

Sarah Walker Caron is editor of Bangor Metro magazine and senior features editor for the Bangor Daily News. She is the author of "The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook," (Sept. 2018, Rockridge Press) and the co-author of "Grains as Mains: Modern Recipes Using Ancient Grains" (March 2015, DK). Her recipes have appeared in the BDN, Betty Crocker publications, Glamour.com and more. She also writes about food at www.sarahscucinabella.com.