Main Meal Inspiration

This month we are focussing on plant based meal ideas. Why not try to introduce more plant based foods this month! A useful way is to decide that Tuesdays for example are going to be meat free! There's lots of options tasty pasta dishes, Thai vegetable curries and lots more! Enjoy x

Lentil Dahl

Ingredients

500g Green or Black Lentils

400ml Full Fat Coconut Milk

Green Saffron Lentil Dahl Spice Mix (available in most supermarkets)

1 tbsp Grated Ginger.

2 cloves garlic

¼ tsp Turmeric

1 red onion

1 tin tomatoes

 Method

  1. Soak Lentils in water for 1 hour.
  2. Chop onion and Add 2 tbsp coconut oil to large pan and add chopped onion and stir occasionally.
  3. Chop the garlic and grate the ginger and add both to the pot. Lower the heat.
  4. Add spic mix to sautéed onion, garlic and  ginger mix and stir it around for 2-3 minutes.
  5.  Add coconut milk and chopped tomatoes into the pan, stir all the ingredients together and cook for 2 minutes.
  6. Drain lentils and add to the pan.
  7. Add in 1.5 litres of water and the lime juice to the pan dish.
  8. Bring your pan to the boil and allow to simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring every now and again until all the lentils are cooked.

Veg & Lentil Cottage Pie

Ingredients

1 medium leek

1 large carrot

1 small onion

1 stick celery

100 g split pea red lentils

500 ml organic vegetable stock

100 g frozen peas

sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons tomato purée

30 g Parmesan cheese

1 large sweet potato or white potato 

Method:

1.     Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Trim, wash and finely slice the leek. Peel and dice the carrot, onion and celery.

2.     Heat a splash of oil in a medium pan on a medium heat, add the leek, carrot, onion and celery. Pop the lid on and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until softened. Add the lentils, stock and peas, then bring to the boil, stirring regularly. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through.

3.     Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper, then add the tomato purée. Scrub the sweet potato clean, then coarsely grate it into a bowl, toss with a little oil and a good few gratings of Parmesan.

4.     Transfer the filling to a an ovenproof dish and cover with the sweet potato. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potato topping is golden and cooked through. 


Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients

1 onion

1 Red Pepper

1 Sweet Potato (medium sized)

1 x tin of Chickpeas

2 tbsp Madras Curry Powder

2 tbsp fresh ginger grated.

1 tin Full Fat Coconut Milk (Thai Gold is good quality)

1 tin Tomatoes

Coriander to serve

 

Method:

1.     Chop onion and gently cook in olive for 10 minutes.

2.     Add chopped red pepper and cook for 5 mins. Season with Salt and Pepper.

3.     When softened add chopped chicken and brown for 8-10 minutes. Then add chopped sweet potato and the curry powder. Leave to cook for further 10 mins.

5.     Add coconut milk and tomatoes.

6.     Leave to cook for 20 mins on medium heat.

7.     Serve with wholegrain brown rice. 

© Dun Laoghaire Nutrition Alliance 2020