When a teenager, I expressed an interest in making lentil stew, so an older friend gave me a recipe that she liked. It called for saffron or curry powder and indeed it was delicious. The second time I prepared it, I decided to use basil and oregano instead. My friend firmly objected, “Nooooo!” Years later I was served a completely different version that contained only garlic, water and lemon juice. It was also tasty. When I told another friend about it, she also objected, “No, no, no, no.” I’m not sure why so many people seem to think there is only one way to prepare a particular food item and certainly you are allowed to have a personal preference. I find many different preparations desirable, which is why I don’t peddle recipes. Cooking without a recipe is so much more fun.
Usually I start by sautéing in olive oil: a combination of chopped onion, celery and carrots. If I have some potatoes, I might toss some of those in as well. Add some minced garlic and then some liquid: water, vegetable or chicken stock. Pour in as many lentils as you like, season with herbs or spices and let it all simmer until tender, about 25 minutes.
How should you season them? With saffron or curry powder? Sure. What about adding tomato, basil and oregano instead? Why not? (Tomato or any other acidic ingredient should go in at the end, BTW. Otherwise the legume may not get tender.) I always salt at the end too.
How thick should it be? I like a thick stew, so I use nearly a 1 to 2 ratio of lentils to liquid. But the version I had that contained only garlic, water and lemon juice was very thin, using less than a 1 to 4 ratio of lentils to water. It was also fantastic. So experiment and have some fun. I really don’t think you can go wrong with lentils. You can always add more liquid if it’s too thick and more seasoning if it needs it. Be sure to season with enough salt at the end and maybe hit it with some olive oil and parmesan or fresh herbs before serving. The possibilities are endless! For more ideas on lentils, Watch Lentils and Rice Partner for a Pantry Party.
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