Spiced Lentils with Spinach and Apples

Wilted spinach and soft apples with delicious spiced lentils.

Ingredients

• 2 cups lentils
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 5 cups water
• 2 stalks medium celery, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsps dry mustard
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 1/2 fl oz lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 8 oz spinach, chopped
• 2 medium skinless tart apples. chopped

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a skillet, and melt in the butter. Add the onion, and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
2. Place the lentils and water in a large saucepan and bring to boil. Lower the heat, partially cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Add celery, cumin, mustard, ginger, coriander and turmeric to onion. Cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
4. Scrape all this into the lentils, add the lemon juice and garlic. Stir. Simmer, partially covered, for 10 minutes - until lentils are tender.
5. Stir in the salt, black pepper, cayenne, spinach, and apples. Cook for a few minutes - until spinach is wilted and the apples begin to soften.
6. Serve hot.
7. Note: recipe based on Mollie Katzen's Enchanted Broccoli Forest.