Crock Pot Pasta With Lentils And Chard Recipes

SLOW-COOKER LENTIL AND PASTA STEW

Steps:

• In 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix lentils, celery, bell pepper and broth.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 10 to 12 hours.
• Stir vegetable juice, pasta and thyme into stew. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 25 to 30 minutes longer or until pasta is tender.

FRENCH LENTILS WITH CHARD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the lentils, 2 quarts water and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 40 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Stir the chard into the simmering lentils. Cook another 10 minutes or so, until the lentils and greens are tender. The chard should be tender but still bright. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve, passing the cheese at the table for sprinkling. Alternatively, transfer to an oiled baking dish, top with rounds of goat cheese, crumbled feta or grated Parmesan, and heat through in a medium oven.

CROCK POT PASTA WITH LENTILS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Rinse and drain chard well. Trim off coarse stem ends; then cut stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips and set aside.
• Cover chard leaves and refrigerate.
• In a 3-quart or larger electric cooker, combine chard stems,lentils, onion, garlic, cumin seeds, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
• Pour in water. Cover and cook at low setting until lentils are tender when mashed with a fork (6 to 7 hours).
• Cut chard leaves crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips; stir into cooker.
• Increase heat setting to high; cover and cook until chard is wilted and bright green (about 15 minutes more).
• Meanwhile, in a 5 to 6-quart pan, cook linguine in 3 quarts boiling water just until tender to bite (10 to 12 minutes); or cook according to package directions. Drain well, pour into a warm wide 4-quart bowl.
• Season lentil sauce to taste with salt.
• Add lentil sauce and Neufchatel cheese to linquine, mix lightly to coat well.
• Offer Parmesan cheese to add taste, if desired.

SLOW-COOKER LENTIL PASTA SAUCE WITH SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except cheese and spaghetti in slow cooker; stir in half the cheese. Cover with lid.
• Cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours (or on HIGH 3 to 5 hours). About 15 min. before sauce is done, cook spaghetti as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Drain spaghetti. Serve topped with sauce and remaining cheese.

PASTA WITH LENTILS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Rinse and drain chard well. Trim off coarse stem ends then cut stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips and set aside. Cover chard leaves and refrigerate. In a 3-quart or larger crockpot , combine chard stems, lentils, onion, garlic, cumin seeds, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Pour in water. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, until lentils are tender when mashed with a fork. Cut chard leaves crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips stir into cooker. Increase heat setting to HIGH cover and cook until chard is wilted and bright green (about 15 minutes more).Meanwhile, in a 5- to 6-quart pan, cook linguine in 3 quarts boiling water just until tender to bite (10 to 12 minutes) or cook according to package directions. Drain well pour into a warm wide 4-quart bowl. Season lentil sauce to taste with salt. Add lentil sauce and Neufchatel cheese to linquine mix lightly to coat well.Offer Parmesan cheese to add taste, if desired.

PASTA AND LENTILS (PASTA E LENTICCHIE)

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 5 cups of water, the lentils, the thyme and bay leaves (if using). Partially cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are al dente, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over high. Add the pasta and cook, stirring often to keep the pasta from sticking to the pot, until the pasta is al dente, 10 to 20 minutes. (It may take longer than the cook time on the package.) If the pot starts to look dry at any point, add more water, 1/4 cup at a time.
• Turn off the heat, discard the thyme and bay leaves, then stir in the Parmesan. Cover and let sit for 3 minutes so the flavors meld and the sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Eat with more Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.