- ½ a swede
- 2 carrots
- 1 parsnip
- 1 leek
- A bag of red lentils
- A thumb of ginger
- A thumb of turmeric
- 2 tsp The Colonel's Spicy Chickpeas Mix
- A tin of coconut milk
- A bag of brown basmati rice
- A bag of watercress
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 500ml hot water
- Roasting tin
- Sieve
- Large pan with a lid
- Measuring jug
- Small pan with a lid
- Salad spinner or kitchen paper
- 1.
Heat your oven to 200ºC/Fan 180ºC/Gas 6. Peel half the swede, the carrots and parsnip. Chop the carrot and parsnip into bite-sized pieces. Dice the swede. Tip into a roasting tin. Drizzle with 1 tbsp oil. Season. Roast for 40-50 mins till tender and lightly charred.
- 2.
Rinse and trim the leek. Slice into rounds. Rinse the lentils under cold water. Peel the ginger and turmeric (see tip). Grate them both. Warm 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan. Stir and fry the leek, ginger and turmeric together for 5 mins over a medium heat.
- 3.
Fill the kettle and boil it. Add 2 tsp of the chickpea spice mix to the pan with the leeks. Stir for 1 min. Add the lentils, coconut milk and 200ml hot water from the kettle. Bring to a simmer. Cover. Cook for 25-30 mins till thickened, stirring occasionally.
- 4.
Tip the rice into a small pan. Pour in 300ml hot kettle water. Add a pinch of salt. Cover and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down. Simmer for 20-25 mins till all the water has absorbed. Take off heat. Steam, lid on, for 2-4 mins till the rice is cooked.
- 5.
Rinse the watercress. Pop it into a salad spinner or pat dry with kitchen paper. Pick out any really large stalks.
- 6.
When the lentils are cooked, stir in the watercress to wilt it. Taste and add salt and pepper if you think it needs it.
- 7.
Divide the rice between 2 bowls. Fluff it up with a fork. Top with the lentil curry and the roasted roots.
- Tip
You are my sunshine
We love fresh turmeric for the sunny hues it adds to our food. We don’t however love stains. Pop on a pair of rubber gloves when you’re grating it, and grate over a plate to save your surfaces.