Indian food is not something we have on a daily basis- something I wonder about every time we do have an Indian dish, because seriously? The cuisine is awesome. Some of my favorite vegetarian options are Indian, and when you combine just the right amount of spice and cool and perfectly cooked Basmati rice- it’s almost unimaginably good.

Case in point: for dinner last night was Dal Aloo, which is basically a lentil and potato curry- but tastes like so much more. Make this today, and you’ll agree:

Dal Aloo

3 large potatoes
1 cup dal (lentils) – I used yellow
coconut oil (may substitute with vegetable oil)
4 small yellow onions
4 cloves of garlic
1 cup coconut milk or cream
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 1/2 chili powder
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala spice powder
salt for seasoning

Combine dal (lentils) and potatoes with enough water to cover, and boil until cooked.

In a medium to large saucepan, saute onions and garlic in coconut or vegetable oil. Add cup of coconut milk, bring to a boil, then immediately reduce flame to low, and add spices (coriander, chili powder, turmeric, Garam Masala). Mix it up, stirring continuously.

Add potatoes and lentils to the saucepan, as well as some water (around 1/4 cup). Simmer, and adjust seasoning.

Serve with a good amount of fluffy Basmati rice- or some flatbreads.

And I know how imprecise the recipe seems, but that’s the beauty of Indian cooking, I think. It’s definitely not a “set it and forget it” thing- with Indian food, you want to be standing over the stove, tasting here, tasting there, adding this and adding that.