nutritional information

Per 1-cup serving:

  • Calories: 250
  • Protein: 11 g
  • Total Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: <1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 41 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
  • Sodium: 130 mg
  • Fiber: 11 g
  • Sugar: 13 g
Vegan Gluten-Free

Indian-Spiced Lentils with Spinach and Rhubarb

Indian-Spiced Lentils with Spinach and Rhubarb

Serves 6

Rhubarb’s fruity flavor complements the Indian spices, sweet raisins, and velvety spinach in this dish. For a more complete dinner, serve over a cooked whole grain, such as quinoa or brown rice.
  • 2 Tbs. olive oil, divided
  • 2 Tbs. yellow mustard seeds
  • 2 ½ tsp. whole cumin seeds
  • 3 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
  • 1 medium red onion, chopped (1½ cups)
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • 1 cup brown lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 3 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • ½ lb. fresh rhubarb, cut into ¼-inch slices, or ½ lb. frozen sliced rhubarb, thawed
  • 6 cups baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro

1. Heat 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add mustard and cumin seeds. Cover skillet, and cook 2 minutes, or until seeds begin to pop. Cook 1 to 2 minutes more, or until popping stops, shaking skillet often. Remove from heat, stir in ginger and garlic, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and set aside.

2. Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and raisins; sauté 10 minutes, or until onions begin to brown. Stir in lentils and 3 cups broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 25 minutes. Stir in rhubarb and remaining 1/2 cup broth; cook 6 minutes. Add spinach, cover, and cook mixture 6 minutes more. Stir mixture to incorporate rhubarb and spinach leaves, then stir in spice mixture. Serve garnished with cilantro.

June 2011 p.66

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comments

This dish certainly was interesting, with the rhubarb and raisins...but it worked. I would definitely make this again. However next time I will let the lentils cook most of the way (more like 35 minutes instead of 25) before adding the other ingredients - the spinach was cooked down to nothing by the time the lentils were actually cooked.

Cassie - 2013-03-10 23:56:30

very delicious. The combination of tastes was delightful. Not spicy. I also could not find any rhubarb so subbed cranberries. Pretty as well as tasty.

ginette nadeau - 2012-08-08 23:29:31

My family really liked this dish. Plus, it was a great way to use up some of the rhubarb (not a ton but a couple of stalks!) I precooked the lentils in the morning with the broth and then just added them and continued on with 1/2 cup of broth and the rhubarb. It was a big time saver. In fact, I doubled the amount of lentils and froze half for another recipe that calls for lentils. The rhubarb did cook down (as it usually does I think... sort of like a compote) but I thought the flavor was still there. Served on quinoa with a few chopped tomatos on the side.

Shelley Schwartz - 2012-07-01 04:57:26

I used Better Than Bouillon's No Chicken Base in place of the veggie broth, and served it over brown rice. This dish was bursting with flavor! It was a hit at home!

Maya F - 2012-06-28 11:28:03

***I mean spinach, not kale. My bad.

lorelei - 2012-06-26 19:33:52

I'm trying to eat more kale and this looked like a good recipe; I made it following all the directions to the letter, and was not impressed. I served it over rice, which was really the saving grace; the taste is pretty dull, even with all the ginger, and the rhubarb basically wilted into mush, losing all its color and flavor. Definitely will not be making this again.

lorelei - 2012-06-26 19:28:07

This is a tasty recipe. Like Sandra mentions, sometimes VT recipes leave the reader having to make some guesses. I pre-cooked the lentils, thinking they were canned in the recipe. If you read the recipe straight through (not a strength of mine), you'd see you cook them during, but no harm was done by my having cooked them (I just skipped the stewing in the middle). It was very good with distinct flavors, but nothing too overwhelming. I'd recommend it.

kate - 2012-06-25 22:57:06

Were dried or canned lentils used in the recipe?

Sandra - 2012-06-24 22:47:51

Yummy!

Sharon Lyson - 2012-06-18 19:26:18

I was intrigued by this flavor combination, and it is delicious! The liquid didn't cook all the way down, so I had to drain some. Otherwise it's great!

Christina - 2012-06-10 22:29:28

I made the recipe, except I used kale instead of spinach. I thought there would be too much ginger and garlic, but the taste was superb and the rhubarb was indescribable! I loved the tang. What a great recipe. Thank you

Patricia - 2012-06-08 22:24:00

Ooooh, looks like a perfect recipe to make to use up the kale from my CSA box as a substitute for the spinach and I LOVE lentils! I've never cooked with rhubarb, so I'll be looking for it at the farmer's market! Yum

Frances - 2012-06-08 19:18:08

I love lentils, as well as Indian cuisine, but I have never seen a combination like this. I was not sure how the flavors would combine, but I must say, it was surprisingly delicious! I was unable to find rhubarb, so I substituted frozen whole cranberries, which have a similar tartness. I also used French green lentils, as I prefer them to brown. I will definitely make this again when rhubarb becomes seasonally available.

Laurel - 2012-03-05 21:16:29

WAY too tangy. WAY. The tanginess of the rhubarb overpowered the entire dish. I could have totally left out the chaunce of cumin and mustard seeds as I couldn't even taste it! I would advise using half the amount of rhubarb called for. Mine also looked more like brown mud. ;)

Jacki - 2011-10-09 21:48:50

While the dish was interesting and tasty, it didn't look anything like the picture. It was the typical lentil dish: everything was brown. It looked like a pot of mud. If there is a secret to making it look like the picture, please let me know.

Sara - 2011-08-03 20:06:11