World Cuisines: Red Split Lentils (India)

Ingredients:
1 cup dry red split lentils, rinsed
4-5 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
ginger root, peeled and grated, a small piece of around 2cm
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small spicy pepper of your choice
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric
3 cups water
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt and pepper to taste 

Preparation:
Makes sure all your ingredients are ready to go when you start. 
Heat oil in large skillet on medium.
Add the cumin seeds and fry for 10 seconds.
Add the onion and cook until transparent.
Add the ginger, spicy pepper and garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
Add the tomato, salt and pepper and cook until the tomatoes fall apart.
Add the turmeric and stir for 15 seconds.
Turn off heat and pour what you've cooked into a large saucepan. 
Add the water and lentils. 
Cook everything until lentils are soft, stirring occasionally; this should be about 30 minutes.
If it's too think, feel free to add water.
Serve by topping with cilantro. 
Goes great with basmati rice.

Makes 2-3 servings.

The recipe comes from Agnieszka's friend Sarita from Central NJ. So glad she taught her to make it! If you want more great Indian recipes, check out Sanjeev Kapoor's website and another about his tv program Khana Khazana.