What You'll Need
1 teaspoon avocado oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
1/2 red onion, diced
Sea salt
1 teaspoon curry powder
Generous pinch saffron
1 stalk celery, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 cup canned diced tomatoes
1 cup red lentils, rinsed very well
1 bay leaf
4 cups spring or filtered water
2 to 3 sprigs cilantro, finely minced, for garnish

Instructions
Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and a pinch of salt and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in curry powder and grind the saffron between your fingers into the onion to release its essence and sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in celery and a pinch of salt and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in carrot and a pinch of salt and sauté for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, lentils, bay leaf and water and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until lentils are quite creamy, about 35 minutes. Season with about 1 teaspoon salt and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leaf. Serve garnished with cilantro.

Makes 4-5 servings.