To create a garlic paste, finely chop the garlic, then sprinkle with a little kosher salt (to act as an abrasive) and crush with the side of a large chopping knife over the mixture until garlic breaks down and becomes paste-like.
Ingredients:
1 cup red lentils (yellow lentils will work as well)
3 cups water
3 plum tomatoes
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely chopped white or yellow onion
2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped and made into a paste (see Recipe Note)
2 teaspoons Bengali five spice mix (panch phoron) OR 1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds or black (or white) sesame seeds, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, and (if available) 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
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