Lentil Stew With Butternut Squash Food

COZY BUTTERNUT, SWEET POTATO, AND RED LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• To a large pot, add the oil, onion, and garlic. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, until the onion is softened.
• Add the squash and sweet potato and stir to combine. Add a pinch of salt and continue sautéing for a few minutes longer.
• Add the broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), coconut milk, lentils, tomato paste, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. (If you are spice-shy, feel free to add half the amount to start and increase from there after cooking, to taste.) Stir well to combine.
• Increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, stir again, and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash and potato are fork-tender. Reduce the heat if necessary.
• Add the apple cider vinegar to taste. Adjust the other seasonings if desired.
• Optional step: Using a handheld immersion blender, blend the stew for only 2 to 3 seconds (any more and you'll blend too much of the veggies). This thickens the broth.
• Stir in the chard, and cook for another couple minutes until the greens are wilted.
• Scoop some cooked rice onto the bottom of a bowl and then ladle the stew overtop. Garnish with minced cilantro or parsley and a good dusting of garlic and chili powder, if desired.
• Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, and they freeze beautifully too.

INDIAN SUMMER STEW: BUTTERNUT SQUASH, COCONUT, AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Rinse the pigeon peas in a couple changes of water.
• In a large soup pot, combine the squash, drained pigeon peas, tomato, coconut, turmeric, cumin, and enough stock to cover. Bring to a boil, and then simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Remove the cover and simmer another 10 minutes.
• To temper: In a small skillet, warm the canola oil until shimmering. Add the mustard seeds and when they stop popping, add the red pepper flakes, garlic, and salt. Swirl the skillet so the contents cook evenly, and cook another 10 seconds. Then pour the contents of the skillet into the soup, along with the salt. Spoon a ladleful of soup back into the skillet (it will sizzle, be careful!), and pour back into the soup pot. Finish with the honey, lime juice, and cilantro. Adjust the seasonings, to taste, and enjoy a little Indian summer in the middle of your winter!

LENTIL STEW WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In 4.5- to 6-quart slow cooker bowl, combine celery, onion, squash, lentils, water, broth, rosemary, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Cover slow cooker with lid, and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting for 8 hours.
• To serve, spoon lentil stew into serving bowls; top with cheese shavings, and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
• Makes about 11.5 cups.

LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Peel the squash and the onions and cut into large chunks. Place the squash and the onions in a roasting tin. Scatter with cumin seeds and toss in olive oil. Cook at 180C/ Gas 4 for 40 minutes until soft and charred.
• Meanwhile, place lentils in a pan and cover with water. Add the bay leaf and bacon, bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 20-25 minutes. Drain, discarding bacon and bay, and combine with squash and onions.
• In a bowl, mix the yoghurt, vinegar and 1 tbsp olive oil. Stir into the lentils with the herbs, zest and juice.
• Season and serve.

LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Halve, peel, and seed squash and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Finely chop shallot and in a shallow baking pan toss with squash, oil, curry powder, and salt and pepper to taste until combined well. Bake squash mixture in middle of oven until almost tender, about 15 minutes.
• Chop walnuts and sprinkle over squash. Bake squash mixture 10 minutes more, or until walnuts are lightly toasted and squash is tender.
• While squash is baking, in a saucepan of boiling water cook lentils until just tender but not falling apart, about 20 minutes. Drain lentils in a sieve and transfer to a bowl.
• To lentils add squash mixture, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste and toss until combined well.

WINTER SQUASH, CHICKPEA & RED LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Soak chickpeas in enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches for 6 hours or overnight. (Alternatively, use the quick-soak method: Place beans in a large pot with enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour.) Drain when ready to use. If you like a very soft chickpea, use the quick method and let the chickpeas boil for five minutes in order to speed up the cooking process.
• Chef's note: Keep your squash and carrots large so that they can withstand the look cooking time without breaking down into the stew.
• Combine the soaked chickpeas, squash, carrots, onion, lentils, broth, tomato paste, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, salt, saffron and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Put on the lid and cook on low until the chickpeas are tender and the lentils have begun to break down, about 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours.
• Chef's note: If you are planning to serve part of this as leftovers, remove that portion from the crock pot and scale the amount of lime juice accordingly. Reserve the rest of your lime to add after reheating the leftover stew.
• Stir in lime juice. Season with salt to taste.
• Serve over rice (white or brown) sprinkled with peanuts and cilantro.
• Place additional lime wedges on the side for diners to add as they wish.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions and gingerroot in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in squash; cook 3 minutes.
• In medium bowl, stir together broth, coconut milk, curry paste, peanut butter, fish sauce, lime juice and pepper until smooth. Pour over squash mixture. Stir in lentils.
• Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until squash and lentils are tender. Sprinkle individual servings with cilantro and peanuts.

VEGAN BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND LENTIL STEW IN THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Turn a slow cooker on High.
• Combine butternut squash, lentils, onion, carrots, olive oil, sage, sea salt, ginger, garlic powder, and cumin in the slow cooker. Pour in water and stock. Stir gently to evenly distribute spices and vegetables.
• Cook on High until vegetables are cooked through and lentils are soft, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Serve warm.