Slow Cooker Dhal With Smoky Chipotle

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This deliciously dreamy slow cooker dhal is made with brown lentils, lots of lovely toasted spices, butter, fresh herbs and of course a dollop or two of our chipotle paste. This went down an absolute storm in our test kitchen, so give it a go and see what all the fuss is about. Just remember to put the lentils in soak the night before you want to cook it.

Serve this slow-cooked dhal as a side for our butter chicken curry recipe or with our Egg Curry.

Prep time

2 hours
Cook time

2 hours
Total time

4 hours
Ideal for

Vegetarian
Make it

Mexican
Serves

4

This recipe uses

Chipotle Paste

Find us in the
Mexican Section

Ingredients

200g (7oz) brown lentils
½ star anise
2 whole cloves
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp fennel seeds
½ cinnamon stick
3 tbsp butter
1 onion, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
4cm (1¾in) piece of root ginger, peeled and grated a bunch of coriander, leaves and stalks roughly chopped
2 tsp chipotle paste
1 tbsp tomato purée
500ml (17fl oz) vegetable stock
4 tbsp crème fraîche
salt and ground black pepper
Simple Flatbreads

How to make it

Soak the lentils overnight in plenty of water.
Drain the lentils, then put in large pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for about an hour. Drain and leave aside.
Add the star anise, cloves, coriander seeds, garam masala, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and the half the cinnamon stick to a dry pan and toast gently for 3–4 minutes, but take care not to burn them. Reduce them to a fine powder in a food processor.
Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a deep pan over a low–medium heat and add the onion and bay leaves. Cook for 15 minutes, or until the onion is completely softened. Add the garlic, ginger, coriander stalks, Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste and a good pinch of salt and pepper.
Add the spices and mix well. Add the tomato purée and cook for 10 minutes. Add the lentils and the stock.
Place a lid on the pot and turn down to low. Cook for 3–4 hours, checking and stirring occasionally, until thick.
When ready to serve, add a little water if necessary to bring to a suitable consistency and stir through half the crème fraîche, the remaining butter and half of the coriander leaves. Top with the remaining crème fraîche and coriander leaves and serve with naan breads or
flatbreads.