Creamy Vegan Lentils With Spinach Food

ONE-POT CREAMY SPINACH LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat the bacon grease (that's what I used) over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Saute for 10 minutes until the vegetables are nice and roasty and fragrant. Add the wine slowly - it should give a little sizzle and get all the browned bits off the bottom.
• Add the lentils, potatoes, and broth. Tie the bay leaf, parsley, and thyme together and toss in the pot (the reason for tying is so you can easily remove them at the end - I actually wrapped mine up in a stalk of celery so it would be contained a bit better). Simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, adding more broth as necessary so the lentils are just barely covered in liquid. When the lentils and potatoes are soft, gently mash the potatoes against the side of the pot with the back of the wooden spoon to make the mixture creamy.
• Remove the tied herbs; add the half and half and spinach. Stir to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper (season, taste, adjust, repeat). Serve each serving with a drizzle of good olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar, per Jamie Oliver's (and my) recommendation.

CREAMY COCONUT CURRY LENTILS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Mince the garlic, grate the ginger, and dice the onion. Add the olive oil, garlic, and ginger to a deep skillet, Dutch oven, or soup pot. Sauté the garlic and ginger over medium heat for 1 minute, or just until the garlic becomes soft and fragrant.
• Add the diced onion to the skillet and continue to sauté over medium until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the curry powder and continue to sauté for about one minute more to toast the spices.
• Add the dry lentils and vegetable broth to the skillet. Stir to dissolve any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Place a lid on top, turn the heat up to medium-high, and bring the broth to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low, and let it simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• After simmering for 20 minutes the lentils should be tender and most of the broth absorbed. Add the can of coconut milk and stir to combine. Turn the heat back up to medium and allow the skillet to come back up to a simmer. Let it simmer without a lid for an additional 10 minutes, stirring often, to thicken the mixture.
• Once thickened, turn the heat off. Add the fresh spinach and stir gently until the spinach has wilted. Taste the mixture and adjust the salt or curry powder to your liking, if needed.
• Serve over a bowl of rice, and top with chopped cilantro if desired.

CREAMY VEGAN LENTILS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat a large pot on medium-low heat and melt the plant butter for 30 seconds before adding the onion, carrot, celery and garlic to the pot. Cook for at least 5 minutes or until the vegetable are a bit browned and the onions are translucent.
• Increase heat to high for 30 seconds before adding the wine. Stir everything till well combined and let the wine completely reduce/evaporate.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add in the lentils. Stir well before adding the vegetable stock, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leafs. Put the lid on and simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
• To the pot, add the half and half or cashew cream and spinach and stir till well combined. Cook for another 5 minutes or until everything is beautiful, fragrant and creamy.
• Serve with a splash of red wine vinegar, olive oil, a bit more salt and parsley.

CREAMY LENTILS WITH SPINACH AND THYME

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils really well in two changes of water, then leave to drain in a sieve.
• Heat 1 tsp oil in a large pan and fry the onion and carrot with a pinch of salt for 5 minutes, until soft, then add the garlic, half the thyme and the bay leaf. Fry for a minute then stir through the lentils.
• Add the veg stock, season, and simmer for 40-50 minutes until the lentils are tender and creamy. Top up with water if they start to stick to the bottom of the pan.
• Stir through the remaining thyme, spinach and coconut milk and simmer until the spinach wilts then season again if it needs it and stir through the lemon juice, to serve.

LENTILS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Saute onion for 10 minutes or so, until it begins to turn golden. Add minced garlic and saute for another minute or so.
• Add lentils and water to the saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer about 35 minutes, until lentils are soft ( this may take less time, depending on your water and the lentils).
• Meanwhile cook the spinach in microwave according to package directions. Add spinach, salt and cumin to the saucepan. Cover and simmer until all is heated, about ten minutes. Grind in plenty of pepper and press in extra garlic to taste.