Bridge Over the Chasm Casserole
Based on:
TypeMain course
Serves4 people
DateSeptember 25, 2026
A comforting curry with a naan bridge across the dish: an edible tribute to Nepal's destroyed bridge.
A warm Nepali dal curry with lentils, potato, and spinach, served in a wide dish. Across the middle lies a 'bridge' of naan bread, visibly connecting over a 'chasm' of curry, referencing the destroyed bridge to the hospital in Bidur.
Ingredients
- 300 g dried red lentils
- 1 large onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 piece ginger (2 cm)
- 2 medium potatoes
- 200 g fresh spinach
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 liter vegetable stock
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 4 tbsp sunflower oil
- salt to taste
- 4 large naan breads (store-bought or homemade)
- fresh coriander, to taste
Method
- Rinse the lentils and drain.
- Chop the onion, garlic, and grate the ginger.
- Peel the potatoes and cut into cubes.
- Heat oil in a large pan. Sauté onion, garlic, and ginger until translucent.
- Add cumin, turmeric, garam masala, and chili powder; fry briefly.
- Add the potato cubes and fry for 2 minutes.
- Add lentils, chopped tomatoes, and stock.
- Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 25 minutes until lentils and potatoes are soft.
- Add spinach and let wilt. Season with salt.
- Warm the naan breads as per package instructions or bake.
- Pour the curry into a wide dish. Make a visible 'chasm' in the center with a spoon.
- Lay two naan breads diagonally across the dish to form a bridge over the 'chasm'. Cut the other naan into pieces and serve alongside.
- Garnish with coriander.
Serving notes
- Serve the dish with the naan bridge intact; break the bridge at the table.
- Offer extra coriander and yogurt at the table.