That is such great advice at the end: I learned the hard way to line up all my ingredients for the sauteeing part of the recipe. I will also admit that I don’t measure the red pepper flakes, tomato paste, or coconut milk any more. I use a little bit more of each according to what I feel like and how it looks as I combine the last few ingredients.

This recipe is one of my favorite weeknight standbys because it comes together quickly, there’s minimal chopping, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Oh, and in my area, I’ve only ever found red lentils in the bulk bins at Whole Foods, so I buy as much as I feel like carrying and keep them in a container in the pantry.