Lentil Skillet With Cumin And Lemon Food

LENTIL SOUP WITH CUMIN AND LEMON

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils and combine them in a large pot with four cups water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the lentils for 25 minutes, or until tender-firm. Stir in a teaspoon of sea salt, remove the lentils from the heat, and skim off any foam that may have formed on top.
• Meanwhile, heat two tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan, add the chopped onion and a pinch of sea salt, and cook slowly until the onion is soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add the chopped leeks and continue cooking for another twenty minutes, stirring often, until the leeks and onions are turning golden.
• Add the onions and leeks to the lentils, along with the diced sweet potato, carrots, celery, another 3 cups water, the remaining half a teaspoon of sea salt and a bay leaf. Simmer the soup gently, covered, for twenty minutes. Meanwhile, wash the chard, slice away the stems, and coarsely chop the leaves. Add the chard and simmer the soup another ten minutes.
• Lightly toast the cumin seeds in a dry skillet, then grind them in a mortar and stir them into the soup. Add the cilantro, parsley, a pinch of cayenne, and the vegetable broth. Heat everything together for a few minutes, then add lemon juice to taste.
• Drizzle some fruity green olive oil over each steaming bowl of soup as you serve.

LENTILS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook the lentils until tender, 20 to 45 minutes. Check often because the cooking time varies depending on the age of the lentils. Drain and set aside. In a medium-size non-reactive skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat, then cook the Swiss chard until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and drain off any liquid. Set aside. In the same skillet heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cilantro and cook until sizzling, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium, add the Swiss chard, drained lentils and water and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the lemon juice and pomegranate molasses and continue cooking until the lentils look mushy, about another 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle a small amount of olive oil over it before serving.

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.

GREEK LENTIL AND SPINACH SOUP WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a large, heavy soup pot, combine cleaned lentils, stock (or water), chili, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, oregano, basil, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat to very low and let simmer, partially covered, about 30 minutes.
• Add potatoes and spinach, cover again and let simmer another 15 minutes. Add the butternut squash. Cover again and let simmer while you do the next step.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the onion and sauté until it starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the celery and garlic and sauté another 3 minutes, stirring often. Add this mixture to the soup; deglaze the skillet with a little soup and add the pan contents to the pot. Add salt, taste for seasoning.
• Just before serving, add the lemon juice, stir well and taste again for seasoning. Serve hot with a lemon slice floating on top of each bowl of soup.

SWISS CHARD AND LENTIL SOUP WITH LEMON JUICE

Steps:

• Wash the strips of Swiss Chard; drain.
• In a large saucepan put the lentils and about 9 cups of water, place on high heat. Bring
• to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and add the Swiss Chard. Cover and boil gently for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a skillet, add onions. Cook on medium heat until translucent; add the garlic paste and cilantro and cook gently for 3 minutes; transfer to the saucepan and mix well with the softened chard and the lentils.
• Continue cooking covered for another 45 minutes until the lentils are tender.
• Slowly incorporate the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper; simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, serve at room temperature.
• In the winter I tend to add potatoes to this soup, making it more hearty. This soup is nice and tart.

CUMIN-SPICED RED LENTIL BURGERS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cover the lentils with cold water by 2 inches and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer the lentils until they are very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the lentils well.
• Preheat the broiler. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add the carrots and two-thirds of the garlic and cook until the carrots begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Stir in the cumin and cayenne and remove from the heat. Mix in the bread crumbs, 3 tablespoons of the parsley, the eggs, salt and pepper. Form the mixture into sixteen 1/4-cup burgers.
• Line a baking sheet with foil. Brush the foil and both sides of the burgers with the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil. Broil until golden, about 3 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the yogurt with the lemon juice and the remaining garlic and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Serve the burgers hot, with the yogurt sauce on the side.

LENTIL SKILLET (WITH CUMIN AND LEMON)

Steps:

• Cook lentils in water on stovetop for 45 minutes (30 minute for half recipe).
• Drain water. Add parsley and salt.
• Mix all other ingredients and add to lentils. Warm through.