Traybake Lemon Dal
  1. Crush the tomatoesPreheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan.

  2. Add 1 tablespoon coriander seeds and 2 teaspoons cumin seeds to a high-sided baking tray and toast in the oven for 2–4 minutes until fragrant, then remove and tip into a pestle and mortar and crush before returning to the tray.

  3. Drain 2 × 400g tins of tomatoes and add to the tray.

  4. Use a potato masher or the back of a large spoon/fork to crush the tomatoes to release their juice and flatten them a little, and spread them evenly over the tray.

  5. Add the flavourings and roastDrizzle over 2 tablespoons ghee or oil, then grate in the zest of 1 unwaxed lemon and 1 thumb of ginger and add 8 thinly sliced cloves of garlic.

  6. Toss the tomatoes in the spices and roast for 30 minutes until sticky and intensified in flavour.

  7. Make the quick picklePut 2 sliced green chillies, 2 teaspoons golden caster sugar, 50ml white wine vinegar and a teaspoon of salt into a small bowl and mix well.

  8. Add the zest of a second unwaxed lemon.

  9. Stir through a small bunch of chopped coriander, stems and all.

  10. Put in the fridge to keep cool.

  11. Add the spicesOnce the tomatoes have had their time, remove them from the oven and stir in 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, a cinnamon stick, 1 tablespoon Kashmiri chilli powder and 1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds.

  12. Put back in the oven for a minute or two to toast the spices.

  13. Add the lentilsTake the tray out of the oven, add 300g split red lentils and pour over a 400ml tin coconut milk and 800ml hot vegetable stock.

  14. Cover tightly with foil and return to the oven for another 40 minutes.

  15. Add the paneer/tofuAfter 40 minutes, carefully take the tray out of the oven and remove the foil.

  16. Stir the dal, then season well with sea salt.

  17. Tear 250g firm tofu over the top of the dal and squeeze over the juice of the 2 zested lemons.

  18. Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes or until the edges of the paneer are beginning to turn golden, the dal is creamy and the lentils are soft.

  19. Finish with the chilli and serveServe with rice, parathas, vegan yoghurt and chutney and the pickled chilli and coriander mixture.

  20. Will keep in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Course🍽️Main Course

Diets🌱Vegan🌾Gluten-free...

Category🍲Dal

Cuisine🇮🇳Indian

Occasions🍲Comfort Food📆Everyday

Season🔁Year-round

DifficultyEasy ⏰ 45m

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