Misir Wat (Spiced Red Lentils) with Garlicky Gomen Greens

Name: Misir Wat (Spiced Red Lentils) with Garlicky Gomen Greens
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Ingredients: 2 cups red lentils, rinsed; 2 onions, finely chopped; 5 garlic cloves, minced; 1½-inch piece ginger, grated; 3 tbsp berbere; 2 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped; 10 oz chopped kale or collards; 1 jalapeño, sliced; 1½ cups rice, or store-bought injera; ¼ cup oil; 2 tbsp tomato paste; ½ tsp turmeric; salt; pepper

DinnerEthiopian50 minServes 4830 kcal33 g protein

Silky red lentils simmered with caramelized onion, tomato and plenty of berbere, served with garlic-and-ginger braised greens: the heart of an Ethiopian vegetarian platter.

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Ingredients

2 cups red lentils, rinsed
2 onions, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
1½-inch piece ginger, grated
3 tbsp berbere
2 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped
10 oz chopped kale or collards
1 jalapeño, sliced
1½ cups rice, or store-bought injera

From your pantry: ¼ cup oil, 2 tbsp tomato paste, ½ tsp turmeric, salt, pepper.

Instructions

Start the rice. Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pot over medium. Cook the onions with a pinch of salt until golden and soft, 10 minutes.
Add two-thirds of the garlic and ginger, the berbere and the tomato paste and fry 2 minutes, stirring, until deep red. Add the tomatoes and cook 3 minutes.
Stir in the lentils and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring often, until the lentils melt into a thick stew, 20 to 25 minutes. Add water if it gets too stiff and season with salt.
Meanwhile make the gomen: heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium, add the rest of the garlic and ginger, the turmeric and the jalapeño, then the kale and ½ cup water. Cover and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes, and season with salt and pepper.
Serve the lentils and greens side by side with rice or rolled injera.

Tip: For a richer, more traditional finish, stir a tablespoon of butter warmed with a pinch of cardamom (a shortcut niter kibbeh) into the lentils right before serving.