Add the olive oil to a stock pot (large pot). Add the onion and cook until opaque on medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute stirring until fragrant. Add the sliced chillies leaving a few for garnish at the end.

Add the diced tomatoes and all of the spices (cumin, coriander, all spice, paprika, bay leaf, salt and pepper) and stir until combined. Add 250ml of the water to combine ingredients and cook for 3-5 minutes.

Add the lentils, carrots and the rest of the water. You can either soak them overnight to reduce cooking time or you can add more water (500ml) to recipe and cook them longer if you haven't soaked them. Cook from 1-3hrs on low heat. Keep an eye on them to make sure they aren't sticking to the bottom of your pot otherwise it will get a bitter burnt taste.

If the stew gets a bit thick simply add small amounts of water to avoid sticky stew or burning. It should have stew juices to soak up with crusty bread loaf or baguette.

When the lentils are soft you can stop cooking. Serve in bowls with warm crusty bread and garnish with sliced red chillies and fresh coriander leaves.

Bon appetit!