- When I lived in Morocco, I ate lentils at Mama Aisha's restaurant all the time.
- But when I moved away, I found myself craving those lentils, so I developed my own approximate recipe for them.
- In lieu of my usual fast-food taste tests, I've started sharing easy, shelf-stable recipes for those stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
- This pandemic-friendly version of Mama Aisha's lentils uses mostly shelf-stable ingredients for a simple and easy, yet unforgettably delicious lentil dish.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
There's a story behind this one.
Feel free to skip ahead if you just want the recipe.
A long, long time ago in a country far away — Morocco, to be specific — this taste tester lived with a circus in a former French slaughterhouse in Casablanca's meatpacking district.
My six-by-eight-foot room in a communal caravan, which makes my current New York room look irresponsibly spacious, didn't have a kitchen. For the most part, only families were allowed that privilege. So for most meals, I'd go out with some of the single men of the circus to small neighborhood joints.
We had our regular spots: the fish fry where you could get sardines so fresh and oily the flesh slid right off the bone, Bou Hassan's chicken-and-fries restaurant across the train tracks, another Bou Hassan's nooklet that sold chickpeas stewed with entrails, and, of course, Mama Aisha's 10-seater, which sold home-cooked chicken stew, fish meatballs, and lentils.
Mama Aisha's place was my favorite, not least because Mama Aisha herself was the only woman business owner in a very conservative neighborhood, but also because her food was good, cheap, and healthy. She also often sent up an extra plate of lentils — for free, of course.
When I left the circus, one of the things I found myself missing the most was Mama Aisha's lentils. So I set to experimenting in my kitchen to create an approximate version. For this recipe, I've included ingredients that you likely already have on hand, so that you can make it in self-isolation without having to go to the grocery store.
You'll need:
- Green lentils, dry (I used a little over a half cup to make two servings)
- Three cloves garlic (adjust to your discretion)
- Butter
- Canola or vegetable oil
- Cumin, turmeric, paprika, chili pepper, black pepper, and salt.
- Milk or a milk substitute
- Water
Yalla, let's cook!
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