# Lentil Dal with Ginger

Red lentil dal with a fresh ginger and garlic base, pressure cooker friendly. Quick and warming boat dinner.

## Ingredients

**From inventory:**
- [*] ~250g red lentils `ID:lentils-red-saban` (TB-17, bb:2028-08) or `ID:lentils-natura` (bb:2027-06)
- [*] Fresh ginger, ~30g `ДЖИНДЖИФИЛ НА КГ` (pantry-fridge, bb:2026-05-25) ⚠️ use now
- [*] 2–3 cloves garlic `ЧЕСЪН НА КГ` (pantry-behind-stove, bb:2026-08)
- [*] Ground cumin `ID:cumin-mykouzina` or `ID:cumin-sklavenitis` (F-13)
- [*] Curry powder `ID:curry-sklavenitis` (F-13, bb:2025-11) ⚠️ expired — smell before using
- [*] Ground chili `ID:chili-aladham` (pantry-spice-stove)
- [*] Sweet paprika `ID:paprika-sweet-kania` (F-13)
- [*] 1–2 chicken bouillon cubes `Kania БУЛЬОН ПИЛЕШКИ` (F-01, bb:2027)
- [*] 2 tbsp butter `Pilos НЕМСКО МАСЛО` (pantry-fridge, bb:2026-06)
- [x] Splash of cream (optional) `Pilos СМЕТАНА 30%` (pantry-fridge, bb:2026-07)
- [*] Olive oil

**Needs shopping:**
- [*] 🛒 1 large onion
- [ ] 🛒 Flatbread / naan / pita
- [ ] 🛒 Turmeric (optional — gives the yellow colour)
- [*] 🛒 Fresh coriander or parsley (optional garnish)

## Equipment

Pressure cooker recommended — 8 min at pressure vs 25 min simmering. One pan for the spice base.

## Instructions

1. Fry diced onion in olive oil until soft and golden (~8 min).
2. Add grated ginger + minced garlic, fry 2 min.
3. Add cumin, curry, paprika, turmeric, chili — fry 1 min until fragrant.
4. Add rinsed red lentils + ~600ml water + crumbled bouillon cube.
5. Pressure cooker: seal and cook 8 min. Regular pot: simmer 20–25 min until lentils dissolve.
6. Season with salt, add splash of cream if desired.
7. **Tarka (optional but good):** melt butter in a small pan, add a pinch of cumin + smoked paprika, swirl until sizzling, pour over dal.
8. Serve with warmed flatbread.

## Variations

> **Note:** Expired curry still works fine in a cooked dish. Smell before using — if it smells of cardboard rather than spice, skip it and double the cumin + use `ID:baharat-aladham` instead.

> **Note:** No blender on the boat — red lentils dissolve on their own into a creamy texture. Green lentils would not work the same way here.

## Items used from inventory

| Item | ID | Location | Status |
|------|----|----------|--------|
| Red lentils | lentils-red-saban | TB-17 | bb:2028-08 |
| Ginger root | — | pantry-fridge | bb:2026-05-25 ⚠️ |
| Garlic | — | pantry-behind-stove | bb:2026-08 |
| Ground cumin | cumin-mykouzina | F-13 | OK |
| Curry powder | curry-sklavenitis | F-13 | EXPIRED 2025-11 |
| Butter | — | pantry-fridge | bb:2026-06 |
| Cream | — | pantry-fridge | bb:2026-07 |
| Chicken bouillon | — | F-01 | bb:2027 |

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*Generated 2026-05-11 to use expiring ginger (bb:2026-05-25) from pantry-fridge*