There are so many delicious dishes that combine sweetness with heartiness. And now a new one joins them: This simple, warming beetroot dal with the sweet note of apples is the perfect autumn dish.
Autumn is here and so is the craving for savory, comforting dishes that warm from the inside out. Soups and stews are definitely among my autumn favourites. And now a new recipe has been added: Beetroot dal with apple.
Linsen dal or dhal is a rather unspectacular dish. You could also call it a spiced Indian lentil slop, but that sounds kind of negative. Dal is great, I love dal - my turnip dhal lands on my plate very often! During my time in the USA with my Indian host family we ate lentil dal every few days with different kinds of lentils and spices. With this recipe I gave the traditional dish a small, but perfectly fitting and delicious twist.
Sweet & Hearty
This beetroot dal recipe is so simple and you only need a few ingredients - beetroot, lentils and apple plus a couple of spices. The combination of apple and beetroot is something to remember. The two simply go so well together. The beetroot brings this warming earthiness while the apple offers the freshness and sweetness that compensates for the tart note of the beet. A dreamlike duo!
I must say I was never a big fan of beetroot, but this beetroot dal is simply fantastic (yes, I am praising myself). If you really don't like the beetroot, just leave it out. Red lentil dhal with apple is also very tasty. Make sure you use rather sweet and crunchy apple.
In terms of spices you should have cumin on your spice rack, as well as cinnamon, coriander and turmeric. And off you go. Don't forget the Basmati rice!
If you try this vegan beetroot dal with apple, leave me a comment or rate the recipe. You can also show me your creation on instagram (@veggiejam). It makes me so happy when you try my recipes.
Recipe
Beetroot Dal with Apples
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: dinner, lunch, side dish
- Cuisine: indian
Description
There are so many delicious dishes that combine sweetness with
heartiness. And now a new one joins them: This simple, warming beetroot
dal with the sweet note of apples is the perfect autumn dish.
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 raw beetroots ((small to medium))
- 1 ½ cup red lentils ((170 g))
- 1 large apple
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp turmeric ((optional))
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ¾ - 1 teaspoon salt
- black pepper
- 3 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Rinse the lentils briefly with water, peel and dice the beetroot (wear kitchen gloves if you have them).
- Finely chop the onions and garlic and sauté in a pan with a little water or oil for 3 minutes. Then add the spices (except the salt and pepper) and the beetroot and steam for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add the drained lentils, add 2 ¾ cups of water and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, simmer for 13-15 minutes on low heat.
- In the meantime, wash and dice the apple. Add the apple cubes and simmer for another 6 minutes until the dhal has thickened. If it is too thick, simply stir in some more water.
- Season with salt and pepper and lemon juice and serve with (basmati) rice and/ or fresh naan bread.
This post is also available in German (Deutsch).
Susan Shapiro says
How much lentils? I don't see them listed in the recipe. Looks delicious Melanie!
Melanie J says
Hi Susan. Seems like I forgot the most important ingredient! Just updated the recipe, so the amount of lentils is listed now. Thanks for pointing that out.
Jessica says
Hi Melanie, Is it possible to use packaged whole cooked beets (not canned) and steam them for a shorter amount of time?
Melanie J says
Hi Jessica. Yes, I think that would totally work. I would add them together with the apples. Let me know how it turns out!