Lentil Pâté With Cumin And Turmeric Food

LENTIL PâTé WITH CUMIN AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a medium saucepan with the water and bay leaf. Cut the onion in half, and add one half to the pot along with the crushed garlic cloves. Bring to a boil, add salt to taste, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 35 to 45 minutes until the lentils are tender. Remove the onion half, and taste and adjust seasoning. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter or oil a 5-cup paté tureen or baking dish, or bread pan. Finely chop the other half of the onion. Heat the peanut or canola oil over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender, about five minutes. Stir in the garlic and spices, and cook, stirring, until the mixture is fragrant and the spices are sizzling, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste, and continue to stir over medium heat until it has darkened, one to two minutes. Stir in the cilantro. Remove from the heat.
• Place the lentils and eggs in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Turn it on, add the olive oil and lemon or lime juice and process until smooth. Add the onion mixture, and pulse to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Scrape into the prepared baking dish and cover tightly.
• Bake for 40 minutes until just set. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. For best results, refrigerate overnight. Serve at room temperature or cold.

RED LENTIL & SWEET POTATO PâTé

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and cook slowly until soft and golden. Tip in the paprika and cook for a further 2 mins, then add the sweet potato, lentils, thyme and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 20 mins or until the potato and lentils are tender.
• Add the vinegar and some seasoning, and roughly mash the mixture until you get a texture you like. Chill for 1 hr, then drizzle with olive oil, dust with the extra paprika and sprinkle with thyme sprigs, if you like. Serve with pitta bread and vegetable sticks.

TAKE-OUT LENTIL SOUP WITH GARLIC AND CUMIN

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot set over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 6 minutes, until the onions become translucent. Add the cumin and continue to cook for another minute.
• Add the lentils, stock, salt and pepper, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the lentils have broken down. Add water if the soup needs thinning.
• Stir in the lemon juice, taste, and reseason if necessary.
• Ladle into soup bowls and drizzle with olive oil to serve.
• Tip: There are many varieties of lentils: red, green, yellow, and black. Although green is the easiest to find, any variety works well in this soup.
• Make ahead: This soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator.

SMOOTH AND EASY TO MAKE GREEN LENTIL PATé

Steps:

• Soak the lentils in water for minimum 2 hours or overnight; rinse after soaking;
• Put the lentils with the bay leaves in a medium sized pot with 2 cups of water; bring to a boil and let it simmer until the water is absorbed by the lentils;
• When the lentils are cooked set aside and take out the bay leaves;
• In a large pan add the 2 tbsp of olive oil and, when it's hot, add the diced onion and minced garlic; sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until they turn yellow; stir continuously to prevent burning;
• Add the cooked lentils together with the rest of the ingredients (except the olive oil) and ½ cup of water (or more if you prefer it less thick) and cook for 10 minutes; set aside and allow it to cool;
• Put the lentils with the remained 2 tbsp of olive oil in a high speed blender or a food processor;
• Blend the lentils until you get a smooth paste;
• Transfer it to a bowl, garnish with fresh coriander leaves and enjoy.

LENTIL PâTé

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large saucepan, gently sauté sweet onion and garlic in margarine over low heat until soft but not browned.
• Season with black pepper . Add lentils and heat until warmed through.
• Scrape lentil mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Process until smooth, adding water if necessary. Add vinegar and pulse until combined.
• Serve lentil pâté at room temperature with toasted bread rounds or savory crackers for a delicious vegetarian appetizer that will appeal to all.

LENTIL SOUP WITH LEMON AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot (like a Dutch oven) over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and cook, stirring occasionally until they are softened and starting to smell sweet, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and turmeric and cook for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the lentils and broth. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Taste then adjust with salt (we add between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon depending on how well seasoned the broth is). Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the lentils are tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Uncover the pot and stir in the kale (or spinach) and cook, uncovered, another 5 minutes. Take the soup off of the heat, and then stir in the juice of half a lemon and the fresh herbs. Taste the soup, and then season with additional salt and/or lemon juice. (I like quite a bit of lemon.)
• Serve or if you prefer the soup to be blended, use an immersion blender to blend until your desired consistency. Alternatively, you can use a stand blender to blend all or part of the soup. For even more lemon flavor, serve with a few lemon slices.