Carol's Prawn Dansak

Ingredients

1kg prawns (you can also use another meat)
1tsp salt
1 dried bay leaf
3 garlic cloves
90g split peas (soaked for 1 hour in cold water)
60g red lentils
1 chopped carrot
1 potato, diced
small tin sweetcorn
3 tblsp oil
2 chopped onions
1/2 tsp yellow mustard seed
11/2 tsp ground coriander seeds
1/2 tsp ground cumin seeds
1/2 tsp  ground fenugreek seeds
11/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 dried red chilli
425g can tomatoes
1/2 tsp garam masala
3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
2 tbsp fresh chopped mint

 

Method

Cook the prawns in boiling water for 3-5 mins

Fill a large saucepan with water and add the salt, bay leaf, 1 garlic clove and the split yellow peas.  Bring to the boil and cook for 15 mins.  Add the red lentils, carrot and potato and cook uncovered for a further 15 minutes. Drain, discarding the garlic and bay leaf.

Puree the cooked veg with the sweet corn in a blender or food processor. or use a potato masher to break down the lumps

Crush the remaining garlic.  Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onion and garlic for 3-4 min.  Add the mustard seed and when they start to pop stir in the ground coriander, cumin. fenugreek, turmeric and chilli.  Add the peeled prawns and stir over a high heat for 1-2 mins

Add the tomatoes and the pureed veg and gently simmer uncovered for 30-40 mins.  Stir in the garam masala and taste for seasoning.

Serve sprinkled with the fresh coriander and mint