Melt the butter in a stainless steel kadai pan. Add the diced carrots and sautee/cook, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes until the carrots are tender. (You can also add the chopped green chili if you want more kick to the recipe. I don't use it.)
Add the fresh ginger and sautee to mix evenly.
Add the diced apples and tomatoes and sautee for another 3 minutes or so.
Add all the spices, mix to coat evenly.
Add the lentils and mix well. Then add the vegetable broth.
For the vegetable broth, I use Urban Platter's Vegetable Broth Powder (Iodised Salt, onion, mushroom powder, lactose, sugar, celery, chives, yeast extract powder, cornflower, sunflower oil - so not sattvic but you are using such a small amount. Feel free to use your favorite vegetable broth), mixing with water at about 1 tsp of the powder to one cup of RO water.
Bring all ingredients to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes.
Remove the soup from heat and remove the whole spices (green cardamom and cinnamon sticks). Allow to cool. Move about 75% of the chunky soup and puree in a standard table top food blender. You can blend all of the soup to a smooth puree if you would like to. I like to keep a few chunks in the soup for texture.
Move about 75% of the chunky soup and puree in a standard table top food blender. You can blend all of the soup to a smooth puree if you would like to. I like to keep a few chunks in the soup for texture.
Return to kadai; add the coconut cream (or coconut milk) and heat if need. Adjust salt and pepper for taste.
Garnish with a teaspoon of dry roasted cashews and a teaspoon of dry roasted coconut flakes.