Red Lentils With Veggies Food

RED LENTILS WITH VEGGIES

Steps:

• Soak masoor dal in 4 cups water; swish with your hands to clean. Drain; repeat twice.
• Combine onion and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium-low heat; simmer until water is absorbed, 5 to 7 minutes. Add oil and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add bebere powder; cook and stir for 3 minutes more.
• Mix tomato sauce and 1/2 cup water into onion-spice mixture; bring to a boil. Add masoor dal and carrots; reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally and adding water as needed to maintain a soupy consistency, until carrots are just tender, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini; cook and stir until lentils are tender, about 5 minutes more. Add salt to taste.

RED LENTIL AND VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Sauté the carrots, onion, and celery in the olive oil until they start to caramelize a bit.
• Add the garlic about a minute before the vegetables are finished sautéing.
• Add the red lentils, and stir until mixed with the vegetables.
• Add the stock, tomatoes and juice, cumin, and Tabasco, if using.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat and reduce heat to medium low.
• Simmer until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes.
• If the liquid all evaporates and the lentils are not done, add a little water to keep the simmer going.

SPICY RED LENTIL SALAD WITH PICKLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• For the lentils: Set a large saucepan over high heat. Add the lentils and toast in the dry pan until they just turn in color a little (this will give the finished lentils a little texture), 20 to 30 seconds. Add 3 1/2 cups water, the cumin, red pepper flakes, bay leaf and some salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are tender and all the liquid has been absorbed, about 12 minutes. Pour the lentils out onto a flat platter in a thin layer so they cool faster and don't get too soft. Cool in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
• For the salad: Drain the giardiniera, reserving 1 tablespoon of the pickling juice, and roughly chop. Wash the arugula and dry well.
• For the vinaigrette: In a large mixing bowl, make a quick vinaigrette by combining the reserved pickling juice with the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, and some salt and pepper. While whisking, add the olive oil to emulsify.
• Assemble the salad in a large bowl by folding the giardiniera in with the lentils. Dress lightly with the vinaigrette and serve immediately over the arugula.

RED LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Combine vegetable boullion, herbs and spices, and about 6 cups water in a large pot and bring to a boil.
• Add rutabagas, onion, garlic, carrots, and dried mushrooms. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Add lentils and red pepper. Simmer for 15 more minutes. Add more water, if needed, to cover vegetables.
• Add cabbage and simmer 10 more minutes, or until cabbage is done. To prevent a cooked cabbage flavor, do not cover the soup.
• Remove dried mushrooms. Discard woody stems and dice caps. Return diced caps to pot.
• Taste for seasoning and add additional salt if needed. My boullion is salty enough that usually no additional salt is needed.
• Note: Red lentils cook quickly and I prefer them cooked to a "falling-apart" doneness. If you like firmer lentils, add in the last 15 minutes of cooking, or cook lentils separately and add to the finished soup.

CURRIED RED-LENTIL STEW WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion with 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, purée ginger, garlic, and 1/3 cup water in a blender. Add purée to golden onion and cook, stirring, until water is evaporated and oil visibly separates from onion mixture, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder, turmeric, and cumin and cook over low heat, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in lentils and remaining 5 cups water and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Add carrots and remaining teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender and lentils have broken down into a coarse purée, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in spinach and peas and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in cilantro and season stew with salt and pepper. If necessary, add enough water to thin stew so that it can easily be ladled over rice.
• Just before serving, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook cumin seeds and red-pepper flakes, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker, 30 to 45 seconds (be careful not to burn spices). Pour hot spice oil in a swirl over stew.