Addictive Red Lentils with Gongura Leaves

This legume curry is a specialty of the Andhra community in Andhra Pradesh, in the southeast of India. On a recent visit to nearby Bangalore to see my brother, I had the opportunity to pay a visit to his neighbor, Ambuja Balaji Rao, who lived for many years in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, a city that is known for its layered biryanis and strong Muslim influences (in both food and culture). Ambuja maintains her Hindu heritage and weaves her penchant for hot chil