Ingredients:
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
½ – 1 teaspoon dried chili flakes
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
2-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 ½ lbs (690 grams or 2 medium) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
½ cup brown lentils, picked over
4 cups vegetable stock
1 (13.5 oz or 400 ml) can full-fat coconut milk
1 small bunch of kale, stems removed & leaves chopped (about 4 cups chopped and lightly packed)
GARNISH:
Chopped cilantro
Extra chili flakes
Lime wedges
Nigella seeds, optional
Directions:
1. Heat a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat. Add the coconut oil to the pot and let it melt. Add the onions to the pot and stir. Saute the onions, stirring occasionally, until translucent and quite soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chili flakes, coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Saute the spices until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ginger and garlic to the pot and cook for another minute. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
2. Add the sweet potatoes to the pot and stir to coat in the spices. Add the lentils to the pot and stir once more. Season everything liberally with salt and pepper. Add the vegetable stock and stir, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Place the lid on top of the pot and bring to a boil.
3. Once the stew is boiling, lower the heat to a simmer and set the lid slightly askew on top of the pot so that the steam can escape. Simmer until the sweet potatoes are almost falling apart and the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. The liquid should also be reduced by almost a third.
4. Add the coconut milk and kale to the pot and stir. Cover, and continue to simmer the stew until the kale is wilted and bright green, 3-4 minutes. Bring the stew back up to a strong simmer and check for seasoning, adjusting with more salt, pepper, chili etc. if necessary.
Serve the stew hot and let eaters garnish however they like.