Barley & Red Lentil Pilaf

for today's food studies prac, i did something new.. something that i have never done before..and i did it all by myself.. and it taste soo good!! it was called..

barley and red lentil pilaf..

it's sort of a vegetarian dish.. cos there's no meat in it :D so sheryl, u can try this recipe.. taste awesome~

i was frightened at first when my partner, for my food studies prac, asked me to do this dish all by myself because she will be handling the other 2 dishes..actually, i was ok with the idea until i saw the list of ingredients.. wa... omigod! i dun know most of the ingredients, ok. i dun even know wat red lentil was!..and there was so many things to be done.. chopchop, slice slice.. etc.. i need help but everyone was so busy... :(

luckily, after i got most of the ingredients , a friendly classmate approached me n asked if i need any help.. i was soo glad~ she helped me to chop those fresh coriander (u know watis that ma? du the one always put on top of the porridge one.. green leafy thingy wan.. very strong smell one..small small one leh?) still no idea? nah.. the pic!
THANX MARIANA

when all the ingredients are ready.. i was like so nervous la.. cos everytime after cooking, eveyone in the prac will taste the food.. i was worried that they might judge my cooking.. saying like it taste like shit!!! or maybe they might puke after eating it..

since it was my first time playing, i mean cooking red lentils and barley.. i was unsure if it was really cook already or overcook.. :( i can't ask anyone as most of them were very busy with their stuffs.. so.. i just depended on my luck ..

when i finished, my tutor told me i was very fast, saying that students before me took forever to finish the dish.. i was worried at first.. i tot maybe it was uncook or something.. sob~


however, when i tried eating a spoonfull of the dish, i was SOO pleased!! it was good!~i can't believe vegetarian food can taste this good! it looked like dhal~ n it even taste like dhal.. i think it was because of the tumeric~


>everyone started coming one by one.. tasting my dish..most of them say it taste great~!!! they love it~ yeay!! happy-nye~ n before i knew it, they finished the whole thing! omigod! it's like a lot, ok? i was so so so over whelmed!! hehe



i think i'm not that bad cook, after all..
hehe


anywayz, to those who are interested in making the barley and red letil pilaf, here's the recipe !

• 1 rounded tsp brown mustard seeds
• 2.5 tsp olive oil
• 1 onion, halved, thinly sliced
• 1 large garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/2 tbs ground coriander
• 0.6 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 0.6L (2.3 cups) vegetable stock
• 60g (1/4 cup) red split lentils, washed
• 166g cauliflower, cut into florets
• 75g ( 1/2 cups) frozen peas
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh coriander
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Method
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add mustard seeds, cook for 30 seconds or until seeds begin to pop. Add onions and garlic, cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until onions begin to soften. Stir in coriander and turmeric, cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
2. Add the pearl barley to pan and stir until well coated. Stir in the stock. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes.
3. Stir in the red lentils, cover and increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for a further 15 minutes.
4. Add the cauliflower and peas, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are just tender and almost all the liquid is absorbed. Use a fork to stir through the fresh coriander and fluff the grains. Taste and season with salt and pepper.