Wash Day Cajun Lentils And Rice Food

CAJUN LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan, saute the onion and garlic in oil until tender.
• Add water and bay leaf; bring to a boil.
• Stir in lentils and return to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, breaking them up; add wine, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper.
• Bring stew to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes; add zucchini and simmer 15 minutes more.
• Discard bay leaf before serving.
• Serve over grilled slices of polenta or steamed brown rice, if desired.

WASH DAY RED BEANS

Steps:

• Wash and sort the beans.
• In a large soup pot cover the beans with water and bring to a rolling boil.
• Turn off the heat and let rest 2-3 hours.
• Drain and rinse the beans.
• Return the beans to the pot and add 8 cups water, add a few pinches of pepper, the thyme, and bay leaves and bring to a slow boil. *Don't add salt at this point, wait until the beans have cooked through or else the beans will stay hard.
• In the meantime, saute the vegetables in the olive oil until soft, about 10-15 minutes.
• Add to the pot and stir.
• After the beans have cooked at least 30 minutes, return saute pan to the heat and saute the meats, adding more olive oil if needed.
• When the sausage and ham bits are cooked and crisping up a bit add that to the bean pot.
• Return the saute pan once again to the heat and add the consomme, stirring and scraping up the flavorful bits.
• Pour all of that into the bean pot and stir.
• Add the whole can of tomatoes and stir.
• Let simmer on low for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally until the beans are just right.
• Season with salt, pepper, & hot sauce to taste.
• I will then mash some of the beans to achieve my desired thickness and then add my secret ingredients: the ketchup and the butter! Shhh.
• Stir, taste and reseason.
• Serve in bowls over steamed white or brown rice.

WASH DAY CAJUN LENTILS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the onion and carrots.
• Cook, stirring, until onion is golden, about 8 minutes.
• Add pepper and mushrooms and cook 7-8 minutes more, stirring.
• Add garlic, tomatoes, broth, Cajun seasoning, thyme, lemon zest and Basmati rice and stir inches.
• Reduce heat, partially cover and cook 20 minutes without stirring.
• Uncover and stir in lentils. simmer 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and serve.