Make Your Own Lentil Spice Jar – Great for Fast Dinners

Life doesn’t seem to slow down, even for our grown-up kids. Not long ago, I mentioned that Nisha came home late one night, tired and hungry, and pulled out one of the lentil jars I’d made up for her. It was quick, no fuss, and just what she needed. She really enjoyed it—and I was pleased it came in handy!🫙✨

Well, this week she popped in again with a new request:

“Mum, I’ve got plenty of lentils at home… could you just make me the spice mix?”

Easy fix! We dry roasted and ground up a few spices, used what I already had in the pantry, and made up a couple of jars with just the spice blend. It took no time at all, and now she’s all set again.

🌿 How it works:
Each jar holds a simple homemade spice blend. Just add 2 teaspoons of the spice mix and 1 bay leaf to about ½ cup of red lentils when you cook. That’s it! No preservatives, no packets, just real ingredients.

Here’s the recipe we used to make 1 spice jar (you’ll get around 6 servings from each spice jar.

🫙✨💛🍛 These make a handy little gift too. Add a handwritten tag with a cooking suggestion and pop a ribbon on top.

Recipe

To print the recipe, simply click the ‘Print’ button below and save your PDF for easy reference!
🌿🥣🫙✨💛🕌🍛🌿🥣🫙✨💛

Lentil Spice Mix Jar – Just the Flavours!

• Servings: 1 jar (approx. 6 servings total)
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Print

A homemade spice mix to add to red lentils – no packets, no preservatives. Just real ingredients in a jar. Use 2 teaspoons per ½ cup lentils.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲: Add 2 teaspoons of this spice mix and 1 bay leaf to ½ cup red lentils. Cook with water, onion, and tomato for a quick meal.

𝗧𝗶𝗽: Label your jars with the instructions and give them as gifts. Handy, healthy, and thoughtful.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds (black or white)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 bay leaves (1 per use)

Directions

1. Layer the Spices: Layer all the ground spices, pepper, mustard seeds, and salt in a small 120ml jar.
2. Bay Leaf: Add the bay leaves to the top or store in a separate jar to retain their shape.
3. Label: Write on the jar: “Use 2 tsp + 1 bay leaf per ½ cup lentils.” Store in a cool, dry place.
4. To Use: Add 2 tsp of the mixed spices to red lentils when cooking soup or dhal. Adjust salt and spice to taste.

3 Easy Meals with This Spice Mix:
– To Make Moroccan-Style Soup: Place ½ cup of red lentils, 2 tsp of the spice mix and 1 bay leaf into a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 chopped onion (optional), 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes, and 3 cups of water. Simmer for 25–30 minutes until lentils are soft. Add more water if needed. Blend for a smooth soup or leave chunky.
– To Make Indian Dhal: Place ½ cup of red lentils, 2 tsp of the spice mix and 1 bay leaf into a saucepan with 1 chopped onion and 3 cups of water. Simmer for 25–30 minutes until thick and creamy. Stir in a knob of butter or a spoonful of yoghurt for richness. Adjust salt or chili to taste.
– To Make Sambar: Prepare as for dhal, then add vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, carrots, or peas. Optionally, fry onions until golden with garlic and stir into the sambar after cooking.

Nutrition

Per use (approx. 2 tsp mix): low calorie; approx. 290 mg sodium.

📌 Don’t lose it — Pin it! Save this recipe to Pinterest or share it with a friend so you can find it again. ♡ Janet