In a large skillet, add olive oil. Add in the eggplant & salt, sauté on medium heat for 15 minutes or until they wilt & shrink in size, stirring occasionally
Add the diced tomatoes, turmeric, cayenne, cumin, coriander, 1/2 cup water and let it simmer covered for 10 minutes on med-high heat.
Check for seasoning and doneness. You may add some hot water to adjust consistency
Turn off heat
Stir in the toasted almonds & cilantro
Potato-cauliflower stir fry
Heat a non-stick skillet & add cumin seeds & toast them for about a minute.
Add garlic & stir to combine
Add potato and cauliflower
Sprinkle some water & season with salt.
Add ground turmeric, ground cayenne, stir to combine
Cover & cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
Check if the potatoes & cauliflower are cooked through (make sure the cauliflower stems are tender & cooked too). If not, sprinkle some more water, cover & continue to cook for few more minutes
Dal
Combine the lentils in a large saucepan, rinse them & set aside
Add ground turmeric & about 5 cups water to the lentils & bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat & simmer, partly covered, until the lentils are soft & tender, about 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a traditional pressure cooker or an electric one, like the Instant Pot, to cook them faster. Once cooked, beat the lentils with a whisk for a minute
The consistency should not be too thin or thick. If too thick, add more water. If too thin, continue to simmer a little longer.
Season lentils with salt
Meanwhile, heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add cinnamon & cardamom, & sauté for 30 seconds.
Add garlic & sauté until light brown, followed by onions & cook for 5-7 minutes
Add the chili peppers & tomatoes & cook until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 4-5 minutes
Add the onion-tomato mixture to the lentils & stir well to combine. Cover & reduce heat to the lowest setting, while you prepare the tempering
Tempering (tadka) (just before serving)
Heat a small pan & melt vegan butter, add cumin seeds & dried chilies, fry for 20 seconds, turn off heat, add the asafetida, & pour this mixture over the lentils
Garnish with cilantro leaves & ground cayenne
Turn off heat & serve hot
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