If you want to curl up on a cool fall day with a nice hearty lentil stew, this dish is for you. During my pregnancy with my daughter, I craved Indian Food. My friend Melanie and I always used to eat Indian Food, but since she moved to Kansas City, I haven’t had anyone to go with me. So I decided to head to a local Indian market by my home in order to find some delicious spices. I always used to order Tikka Masala at a restaurant, but I decided to switch things up and purchase a goda masala spice blend instead. It’s a spice often used in Maharashtrian cuisine, the third largest state in India located in the west. If you would like to make your own goda masala spice, you can find a recipe here. Maybe one day I will learn to make an authentic Maharashtrian dish with the goda masala spice.

While I was at the Indian market, I also picked up 24 Mantra Organic Mixed Lentils / Pancharatna Dal. They are a mix of mung bean split, black gram split, lentils hulled split, pigeon pea hulled and chickpea hulled split. Supposedly they are easy to digest and do not require soaking. However, I do have a very sensitive stomach and didn’t want to risk the upset. In case you are a newbie to making lentils, here’s what I did to successfully avoid tummy troubles. First, I boiled water. Then, I poured the legumes into a pot and covered them with a few centimeters of the boiled water, the warm water helps break down indigestible starches. I added 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons for each 1 cup legumes). You can also add another acid such as lemon juice. I soaked them for 8 to 12 hours, drained them, rinsed them again, and returned them to a clean pot. I went here online and read about what to do with lentils and followed the instructions.

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