Red Lentil Soup (Daal)

1 cup red lentils (daal massoor)

2 cup water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper (reduce to make it mild)
1 tsp crushed red pepper (reduce to make it mild)
½ tsp coriander
¼ tsp turmeric
¼ cup cooking oil
½ small onion thinly sliced
1 tsp cumin seed
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
1 small tomato, chopped (optional)

Wash lentils with lots of water until water runs clear.

Boil water in a medium size saucepan. Add washed lentils to the boiling water.
Add salt, cayenne pepper, crushed pepper, coriander, turmeric, and let it return to boiling.

Let it boil for 5 minutes, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened to soup
consistency.

In a small frying pan, fry onions in oil until golden brown, add cumin, cook for a few seconds.
Let the fried onions, cumin and oil cool for a minute, before pouring over the cooked lentils.

Add last 2 ingredients just prior to serving.