Spinach, Squash and Sweet Potato Dhal with Cauliflower and Spinach Pakora

For the Spinach, Squash and Sweet Potato Dhal:

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium–low heat. Add the onions, garlic and ginger with a big pinch of sea salt. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring, until the onion has softened. Add the garam masala, chilli flakes, turmeric and mustard seeds, stir thoroughly and then add the lentils. Finely chop the coriander stalks and add to the pan with the nigella seeds and diced sweet potato and squash. Give everything a good mix.

Dissolve the bouillon powder in 1.5 litres of boiling water.

Pour this hot stock into the pan and bring to the boil over a high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently and deeply so the lentils don’t stick to the base of the pan. The lentils and squash should be tender and retain no bite. Add the coconut milk and spinach, then stir well.

After 2 minutes, remove from the heat and season to taste.

Freezing guidelines: Divide the dhal between individual freezer-safe containers. Leave to cool completely with lids off then seal, label and freeze. It will keep fine for up to 3 months.

Reheating guidelines: Remove the container from the freezer and defrost in the fridge. Once fully thawed, tip the dhal into a pan and gently heat, stirring regularly, until piping hot. To cook from frozen, tip the dhal into a pan, cover with a lid and place over a low heat to thaw. Increase the heat to cook.

For the Cauliflower and Spinach Pakora:

To make the batter, combine the flour, spices, baking powder and salt in a bowl. While beating well with a balloon whisk, pour in the soda or fizzy water in a slow and steady stream until you have a thick batter the consistency of pouring custard. Add a little more water, if needed.

Heat up the Spinach, Squash and Sweet Potato Dhal and keep warm while you make the pakora.

To make the pakora, fold the cauliflower, spinach and coriander into the batter. Make sure all the veg and herbs are thoroughly coated with batter.

Pour enough oil into a large high-sided saucepan to fill it one-third full or at least 10cm deep. Heat the oil to 180°C.

If you don’t have a thermometer, a drop of batter will brown in 45 seconds when the oil is at the correct temperature.

Take a small spoonful of the pakora mixture and gently drop it into the hot oil. Keep the spoon close to the surface of the oil and don’t drop the batter from a height. Be careful not to splash yourself with hot oil. Fry just a few spoonfuls at a time and don’t overcrowd the pan. The pakoras are done when the batter is puffed up and they’re golden brown all over. This will take about 3–4 minutes for each batch.

Finish the dhal with a good squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of nigella seeds, a dollop of yoghurt and some fresh coriander leaves.

Remove the pakoras from the hot oil with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen paper and sprinkle with flaked sea salt, which helps to keep them crisp.

Serve the pakora immediately alongside the dhal. Add some naan or cooked short-grain brown rice, if you’re really hungry.