Choose supper for me please, two options:

[questionzzz]

Lentils and rice with little meatballs, dates and raisins, OR
Chicken stewed with spinach and dried plums?

(I'm from the Middle-east, btw, both these were fairly staple dishes growing up, esp. the lentils and rice)

Lentils and rice sounds delish

Both, please!

Not helpful, I realise but they both sound delicious.

Fish, salad and new potatoes. Which i'm sure won't appeal to many either!

I’m Indian so a meal wouldn’t be complete without meat, lentils and rice lol.

Lentils and rice - any chance of the recipe, I have lots of lentils (bought in February because I read the international press, I'm fed up with dal)

Chicken - I'm a making a Thai chicken tonight.

You've inspired me to try make something with lamb and apricots - probably next week if I get lamb on the next shop.

Apart from rice any ideas on a gluten free grain?

Do you have a blog, op?

I.e. For more lush recipes

They both sound lovely, might try to make the rice and lentils dish over the next few days.

Can we use prunes instead of dried plums? or are they the same anyway...

Yeah I kinda think prunes are dried plums?

No blog but there are tins of similar middle-eastern-style inspired recipes all over the place. Ours is different from the Guardian's Ottolenghi tradition though, different sets of spices. We also wouldn't have lamb and apricot, that's very arabic-leaning cuisine (I have had it, though, very good!)

I should add the lentils we use are the ones labelled "green lentils", although they are more brown-ish. Not the kind used in dal.

What sort of lentils do you use @questionzzz? It sounds good apart from the fruit

Could I add something else or would you have veg on the side?

Lentils and rice, why have I never thought to combine these? 2 of my favourite things. Any spices or seasoning in the rice and lentils? I'd probably use green lentils.

they both sound gorgeous.

Yes green lentils.

You can totally have it wthout the raisins and dates. You could have it plain, the rice and lentils, with some butter maybe or not. Or just fried onions. Or just the meatballs. It's very versatile, working class dish. It would not for example be served at a wedding, or even for a more fomrla social gathering.

Turmeric and cinnamon are our mainstream spices. Nothing too peppery or curry.

Definitely the chicken, but no plums in mine please

Yum, it all sounds delicious. No wonder you’re having trouble deciding

I eat green lentils often - I like them.
An egyptian friend first gave me some, fried with onion.

I usually boil them with veg but will try them with rice.

Forgot to say Thanks OP! Enjoy your supper.

I love Middle Eastern food! I do the rice lentily thing with onions.

Both sound delicious and right up my street

Omg all of that sounds amazing

both sound great - if it wasn't for social distancing I'd be inviting myself round

I am so slow to try new foods, but when I do and they're authentically home-cooked, I'm in awe. Neither of your dishes would have my mouth watering until you described the cooking etc. I think I'd love to try the rice/lentil dish first.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay you would be welcome... As we would say in our mother tongue, "your steps should be on our eyes"