Summer Kitcharee

This is comfort food. The texture is creamy, the flavors are soothing (and a bit spicy) and the something is something. You know what I mean. Or you will once you eat some of this.

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion (6oz/170g) chopped

4 carrots (12 to 15oz) chopped

4 large celery stalks, chopped (2 tsps. celery seed)

2 medium potatoes, quartered and diced into bite-size pieces

10 cloves garlic (40g), minced

3” piece of peeled fresh ginger, minced (about 25g)

1 tsp hot curry powder (pref. Madras curry powder)

1 tsp garam masala 

¼ tsp  turmeric

1 tsp salt, to taste

Pinch or 2 red chili flakes, to taste

1 cup split red lentils or split mung dal

½ to ⅔ cup white Basmati rice 

8 cups vegetable broth

1 large bay leaf

2 zucchini (400g), quartered, sliced

2 cups (72g) Swiss chard, stemmed and julienned (or other greens)

1 to 2 handfuls of fresh green beans, cut into 1" lengths

½ tsp salt, to taste

To serve provide the following toppings:

- plain yogurt

- Braggs Aminos

- steamed broccoli

- fresh lemon slices

- chopped cilantro 

- parsley

1. Cook the onion in the oil hot oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat, until just starting to soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Add carrots, celery, potato, garlic and ginger. Stir to combine and cover and let the vegetables sweat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent.
3. Add the spices and mix in, cooking for about a minute.
4. Add the lentils, rice, broth, and bay leaf and bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
5. Add the zucchini squash and green beans and cover to cook for an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until the pulses start to fall apart and the veg is just tender.
6. Stir in the spinach.
7. Turn off the heat. Taste and season with salt, as needed.
8. Ladle into bowls and serve with toppings as desired.