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29 Jan Hearty Coconut-Curry Lentil Stew With Yams

The east coast is experiencing unusually low temperatures these days. For those who desire eating foods that are healthy and don’t want the cooling effects of raw salads, I recommend that you continue to eat your veggies but make the transition to root vegetables. With a few spices you can easily turn them to soups or stews. I personally enjoy the warming effects and health-benefits of curry. You combine that with a plant-based protein such as beans and you have yourself a cheap and healthy meal. With a slow-cooker you can prep your ingredients in advance and program it so it will be ready upon your arrival from work. You could even freeze your leftovers and enjoy again and again. Bulk cooking really allows you to drastically reduce your weekday cook time.

This particular recipe incorporates many of the seasonal foods that are abundant this time of year such as yams, carrots, lemons, and dark leafy greens. In this recipe, I used spinach only because that’s what I had in my refrigerator. Kale and Collard Greens are equally delicious and work just as well. Mother nature knew what she was doing and it is in your best interest to pay attention to what she has to offer when she offers it. Other ingredients such as garlic, onions, ginger and lentils are available year-round. As if that were not enough I also incorporated tomato paste, kombu, and coconut milk. Words cannot describe the fragrant aroma that filled my home!Because I have small children and a picky husband, I decided I could encourage my family to eat the stew by taking my carrots and cutting them into hard-to-resist heart shapes. I’ll be honest, this wasn’t easy to do but the look on their faces made me and them happy. You can see how to do this for yourself here. The only thing missing was some warm naan bread to dip into my bowl. Fortunately, I have plenty left over and will surely be better prepared next time.

Eating mindfully is very-much a part of a healthy regimen. Take the time to savor the diverse flavors and to chew your food. Identify all of the spices and ingredients in every bite, then sit down and enjoy the warming effects of this delicious meal. And by the way, this recipe is vegan, gluten-free, family-friendly and most important, it’s delicious ¡Buen provecho!

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