These cooler days require topping up the body with nutrition and nourishment and this tasty dish does just that.  Fragrant lentils combined with garden greens and an abundance of warming spices will fill you with happiness.

serves 4

ingredients

1 cup brown lentils

¼ cup coconut oil, olive oil or ghee

1 leek, washed well

1 onion, slice thinly

2 cloves garlic. Crushed

¾ long grain rice

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

½ tsp allspice

1 small dried chilli or generous pinch cayenne

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

4 generous cups of greens (silverbeet, kale, cavolo nero, spinach)

1-2 tsp salt

Cracked pepper

Method

Soak the lentils in warm water with a teaspoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and let soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Meanwhile cut the leek in half lengthways and wash well. Slice the leek 3 mm slices.

Heat the oil in heavy base pot over medium heat.  

Add the onions, leeks and garlic and sweat off for 5 minutes.

Add the rice and all the spices. Stir often as you want the spices to go fragrant and the rice to lightly toast.

Drain the soaked lentils and add to rice, cover with 1 litre of cold water.  Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes.

Wash all the greens and drain.  Lay the greens over the lentils and season with salt and cracked pepper.  Cover once again and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Mix the greens through the rice mixture.

Enjoy.