Sun Oven Lentil Stew Food

HEARTY LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Place lentils in a fine mesh colander and rinse under cold running water to remove any dirt and debris. Pick through to make sure there aren't any little stones and discard any shriveled lentils.
• Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Stir in onions, celery, and leeks and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Toss in the garlic and for another minute or two.
• Add the lentils, kale, potatoes, carrots, canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, water and seasoning.
• Bring to a boil, then cover, and let simmer on medium-low heat for about 30 minutes or until lentils are tender and vegetables are just fork tender.

SMOKY LENTIL STEW WITH LEEKS AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Rinse lentils. Put them in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed pot and add 8 cups water. Pin a bay leaf to each onion half using a whole clove and add to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, add a large pinch of salt, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook with lid ajar for about 30 minutes, until soft. Turn off heat.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to boil, and cook the potato slices until just done, about 10 minutes, then drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool.
• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is wavy, add leeks and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Let leeks cook briskly, stirring frequently until soft but still bright green, about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn heat to medium, stir in chopped garlic, thyme, pimentón and cayenne.
• Add saffron and soaking water, the chopped tomato and vinegar. Turn heat to high and let everything simmer for a few minutes. Pour contents of skillet into Dutch oven with lentils. Add the reserved potatoes.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook covered with lid ajar for about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then cook for 10 more minutes. The lentils will be quite soft and the potatoes will start to break. Discard onion and thyme sprig.
• Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley, if you wish.

LENTIL AND TOMATO STEW

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven, combine lentils, water, onion, half the garlic, and bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Add salt to taste, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 25 minutes, until lentils are cooked through but still have some texture. They should not be mushy. Taste and adjust salt. Using tongs, remove onion and bouquet garni.
• Meanwhile, make tomato sauce in a separate pan. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. When it smells fragrant but before it browns, after about 30 seconds of sizzling, add tomatoes and stir together. Add sugar, salt, and basil sprigs and turn heat to medium-high so tomatoes come to a brisk simmer. Turn heat down to medium and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down to thick, fragrant sauce, about 20 minutes. Remove basil sprigs.
• If using unpeeled tomatoes and a food mill, put sauce through fine blade of the mill. Add tomato sauce to lentils, stir together, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes. The mixture should be fairly thick, a stew rather than a soup. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Stir in slivered basil.
• Serve in wide bowls, over optional garlic bruschette. Sprinkle Parmesan over each serving if desired.