Red Lentil and Cauliflower Soup

INGREDIENTS

• Salt
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 3 medium carrots, peeled or scrubbed, and cut into ½ inch slices
• 1 teaspoon freshly toasted and ground cumin
• Or almond or cashew milk
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 head of cauliflower, trimmed and broken into bite-sized florets
• Mint and/or cilantro chutney (There are several good fresh chutney recipes on food52.) (See note below.)
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• Consider stirring in:
• Juice of a lime
• 1 ½ cups red lentils or masoor dal
• 3 cups chicken stock
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Cucumber Raita (or crème fraiche, sour cream, or Greek yogurt)
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• ½ inch slice of ginger root, minced, or more to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons of ghee, or vegetable oil or butter (or a combination)