Lentils with Tamarind Sauce

This recipe I got from the newspaper but I've changed it a little. It was so yummy, very Indian flavours. The tang of the tamarind complimented so beautifully with the heady spices.

Lentils with Tamarind Sauce


Ingredients

1/4 cup frying oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 carrots, chopped
2 tsp garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1 can crushed tomatoes (400g)
1 tbsp ginger, grated
1 cup tamarind water*
2-3 cups cooked lentils (I soaked brown lentils for 24 hours then cooked them in advance or you can use canned)
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground cumin
1 handful English spinach


Method

Heat oil in large frying pan on medium. Fry onion and carrot until soft and slightly browned.
Add garlic and cook for two minutes.
Add tumeric and paprika and cook for a moment.
Add the tomatoes and ginger and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Add  tamarind water and water and simmer on a low heat for 15-20mins.
Add lentils, garam masala and cumin and cook for about 3minutes.
Add spinach and cook until wilted.
Serve with basmati rice.




*Tamarind water is made by a ratio of whisking 1 Tbls tamarind paste to 1/4 cup of warm water