Spiced Lentil Stew

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and small dice the onion. Peel and mince the ginger. Cut out and discard the cauliflower core; cut the head into bite-sized florets. Roughly chop the cilantro leaves and stems. Using a peeler, remove the green rind of the lime, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind to get 2 teaspoons of zest (or use a zester). Quarter the lime. In a bowl, combine the yogurt, lime zest and a drizzle of olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a small pot, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the onion and ginger; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened and fragrant. Add the lentils and as much of the spice blend as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until toasted and fragrant. Add the coconut milk (shaking the can just before opening) and ¾ cup of water. Heat to boiling on high; once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, 20 to 22 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat; season with salt and pepper to taste.

While the lentils cook, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the cauliflower; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add ½ cup of water; cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until the water has cooked off. Add the juice of 2 lime wedges; cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Transfer to a large bowl. Wipe out the pan.

While the lentils continue to cook, add the flour to the bowl of cooked cauliflower; season with salt and pepper. Carefully toss to coat. In the same pan, heat a thin layer of oil on medium-high until hot. Once the oil is hot enough that a pinch of flour sizzles immediately when added to the pan, add the coated cauliflower (tapping off any excess flour) in a single, even layer. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy. Season with salt and pepper.

While the cauliflower cooks, carefully place the naan directly onto the oven rack. Toast 4 to 6 minutes, or until slightly crispy and warmed through. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, quarter the toasted naan.

Add the chili sauce and the juice of the remaining lime wedges to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until coated; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the cooked lentils between 2 bowls; top with the cauliflower. Garnish with the cilantro. Serve with the yogurt sauce and toasted naan. Enjoy!