Spiced Tomato Lentil Stew

1Rinse the lentils (2 cups) thoroughly and set aside.

2Chop the tomatoes (4), onion (1), and garlic (3 cloves).

3In a large pot, heat some oil over medium heat and sauté the onion (1) and garlic (3 cloves) until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.

4Add the chopped tomatoes (4) and cook until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.

5Stir in the cumin (1 tsp), coriander (1 tsp), turmeric (½ tsp), paprika (½ tsp), and cayenne pepper (¼ tsp), and cook for another minute to toast the spices.

6Add the rinsed lentils (2 cups) and vegetable broth (4 cups) to the pot.

7Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 30-40 minutes or until the lentils (2 cups) are tender, stirring occasionally.

8Season with salt and pepper to taste.

9Serve the spiced tomato lentil stew hot, garnished with fresh cilantro leaves.