Red Lentil Dhal - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup red lentil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon oil (for frying)
3 -4 cups water
1 -2 tomatoes, chopped (optional)
cinnamon stick (optional)
1 tablespoon curry paste (Indian curry paste)
salt

Preparation

Carefully sift through the dry lentils and remove any tiny rocks.
In a large pot, saute onion with oil and curry paste until softened.
Add rinsed lentils, water and optional tomato and cinnamon stick.
Bring to a boil then simmer covered at a low boil for up to an hour until the lentils become creamy.
Salt to taste.
Serve as a soup or over rice.
Source: Vegetarian Tastes of Toronto, p. 73.