Red Lentil Curry

A friend asked for this recipe, and when I went to the American Test Kitchen cookbook to get it for her, I realized that I had changed almost every ingredient. So I claim some credit for this.

total time: 45 min (includes 20 min simmering time)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion minced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons curry powder (or 1 t garam masala, but who has that?)

3 cups water

1 1/4 cups red lentils, picked over and minced

1 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon sugar (I know, I know...but it makes it taste a lot better)

Saute onion in oil until softened, about 5 min. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (15 seconds). Stir in all other ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, partially cover, and cook until lentils break down to form a thick puree, 20-30 minutes. Salt to taste.

Serve over rice (we do brown rice).