Dahl: a trekking staple

DifficultyIntermediate

You can't go walking in Nepal without eating dahl. This is the gourmet version, with creamy coconut milk. It's compact and lightweight, and requires minimal fuel and water.

Yields2 Servings
Prep Time5 minsCook Time45 minsTotal Time50 mins
Summary
 600 g total weight (dry ingredients)
 1 l total volume dry ingredients (approx.)
 This recipe uses perishable ingredients. You should use your own judgement as to whether it's suitable for your hike.
Water and fuel
 550 ml water
Ingredients
 2 tbsp oil
 1 small brown onion
 1 clove garlic
 2 cm ginger
 1 bay leaf
 ½ cinnamon stick
 1 tsp turmeric
 ½ tsp ground cumin
 ¼ tsp garam masala
 ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes
 ½ tsp dried coriander leaves
 1 vegetarian stock cube (each stock cube makes 1 cup of stock)
 1 cup red lentils
 50 g coconut milk powder in sachet
 2 naan breads in sealed bag
Packing for your hike
1

Put dried coriander leaves in a bag. Put powdered spices and chilli flakes in a bag together.

Dahl ingredients - naan bread, red lentils, garlic, ginger, bay leaf, spices, stock cube, onion, coconut milk powder. Photo: A Hutchings

Before cooking
2

Finely chop garlic and ginger. Dice onion.

Chopped onion, garlic and ginger on lightweight hiking chopping mat. Photo: A Hutchings

Cooking
3

Heat oil over medium heat. Fry onion, garlic and ginger for 5-10 minutes or until onions are soft.

Onion, garlic and ginger frying on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

4

Add powdered spices, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, lentils, water, stock cubes and coconut milk powder. Bring to boil.

Stock, coconut milk. lentils and spices added to onion, garlic and ginger on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

5

Turn down heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, uncovered, until lentils are soft. Stir frequently to stop the dahl from sticking to the pan and burning.

Dahl cooking on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

6

Divide between bowls, and sprinkle over dried coriander leaves. Serve with naan bread.

Dahl in camping bowl, with naan bread. Photo: A Hutchings

Ingredients

Summary
 600 g total weight (dry ingredients)
 1 l total volume dry ingredients (approx.)
 This recipe uses perishable ingredients. You should use your own judgement as to whether it's suitable for your hike.
Water and fuel
 550 ml water
Ingredients
 2 tbsp oil
 1 small brown onion
 1 clove garlic
 2 cm ginger
 1 bay leaf
 ½ cinnamon stick
 1 tsp turmeric
 ½ tsp ground cumin
 ¼ tsp garam masala
 ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes
 ½ tsp dried coriander leaves
 1 vegetarian stock cube (each stock cube makes 1 cup of stock)
 1 cup red lentils
 50 g coconut milk powder in sachet
 2 naan breads in sealed bag

Directions

Packing for your hike
1

Put dried coriander leaves in a bag. Put powdered spices and chilli flakes in a bag together.

Dahl ingredients - naan bread, red lentils, garlic, ginger, bay leaf, spices, stock cube, onion, coconut milk powder. Photo: A Hutchings

Before cooking
2

Finely chop garlic and ginger. Dice onion.

Chopped onion, garlic and ginger on lightweight hiking chopping mat. Photo: A Hutchings

Cooking
3

Heat oil over medium heat. Fry onion, garlic and ginger for 5-10 minutes or until onions are soft.

Onion, garlic and ginger frying on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

4

Add powdered spices, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, lentils, water, stock cubes and coconut milk powder. Bring to boil.

Stock, coconut milk. lentils and spices added to onion, garlic and ginger on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

5

Turn down heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, uncovered, until lentils are soft. Stir frequently to stop the dahl from sticking to the pan and burning.

Dahl cooking on camping stove. Photo: A Hutchings

6

Divide between bowls, and sprinkle over dried coriander leaves. Serve with naan bread.

Dahl in camping bowl, with naan bread. Photo: A Hutchings

Notes

Dahl: a trekking staple
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