Dhal with crispy sweet potato and quick coconut chutney

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the sweet potatoes

1 big sweet potato, chopped into cubes
sea salt and pepper
1tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
vegetable oil

For the dhal

2 garlic cloves, chopped
small piece of ginger, chopped
1 green chilli
1 red onion, chopped
1tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp ground tumeric
1tsp ground cinnamon
200g red lentils
400ml tin of coconut milk 400ml vegtable stock
2 large handfuls of spinach
a bunch of fresh coriander, chopped
juice of 1 lemon

For the coconut chutney (this is optional)

50g unsweetened desiccated coconut
1tsp mustard seeds (Anna says black but I used normal ones and they worked fine)
10 curry leaves
coconut oil
20g piece of ginger, grated
1 red chilli

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan oven). Pour 150ml of hot water over the desiccated coconut and set aside to soak.

2. Put the sweet potato on a baking tray with the cumin seeds and fennel seeds, season with the salt and pepper and cover with a drizzle of olive oil. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes until crispy brown.

3. In a large saucepan, fry the garlic, chilli and red onion in a little olive oil for about 10 minutes.

4. Grind the cumin and coriander in a pestle and mortar (I don't have one so bashed them a bit with the end of a rolling pin and it turned out fine!) and add to the pan along with the other spices and cook for a few minutes. Add the lentils, coconut milk and stock and bring to the boil and then simmer for 25 minutes.

5. Drain the coconut. Fry the curry leaves and mustard seeds until they start to pop then pour the mixture over the coconut, season with salt and pepper, stir in the ginger and chilli and mix.

6. Stir the spinach,  most of the coriander  and lemon into the dhal. Pile into bowls, top with the crispy sweet potato, coconut chutney and and enjoy!