Exotic Sprouted Fermented Black Beluga Lentils Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S BLACK LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir bacon in hot oil until bacon is browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion, carrot, celery, and salt; cook and stir until onion is softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Season with black pepper, cumin, thyme, and cayenne pepper.
• Pour lentils into bacon mixture and stir to coat completely in rendered bacon fat. Add chicken broth and bay leaf; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook, adding more chicken broth as needed, until lentils are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Add 3 tablespoons parsley and stir. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle remaining parsley over the top and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

BRAISED BLACK LENTILS

Steps:

• Melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Cook and stir onion, carrot, celery, and salt until vegetables are softened and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add thyme sprigs and pepper. Stir in lentils until well coated. Add chicken stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, checking occasionally, until the lentils are tender and have absorbed all the liquid, about 35 minutes. Remove from heat and discard thyme stems. Stir in champagne vinegar and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

SPROUTED BLACK LENTILS

Steps:

• Put lentils in a large plastic container with a wide-mouth top and pour in 3 cups cold water. Stir to ensure an even soak. Cover with a double layer of cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band around the rim. Soak at room temperature 12 hours.
• Invert container and let water drain; then let drained beans stand in pitcher at room temperature 8 hours.
• Rinse beans with cold water 3 times a day until all have sprouted (grown threadlike shoots), 2 or 3 days. (Putting them under a heat lamp speeds up the sprouting.) Rinse one last time, dry quickly with clean kitchen towels, and chill, covered.
• *Find beluga lentils at well-stocked grocery stores and online.
• Make ahead: Up to 1 week, chilled.

EXOTIC SPROUTED FERMENTED BLACK BELUGA LENTILS

Steps:

• Fill a mason jar with the lentils, and then cover with slightly warm filtered water ( 1 tablespoon whey can be adding to the water) overnight. On the top you place a sprouting screen screwed into the lid. In the morning you drain and rinse it (doing so right through the screen), and then you invert your jar at an angle, allowing it to drain and air to circulate within your jar. Then all you have to do is rinse 2-3 times per day, and your seeds will turn into sprouts.
• Place everything but the lentils in a quart size jar and shake to blend.
• Add the lentils and give another shake to blend. be sure to leave head room.
• Rest on countertop out of light for 4-7 days. It will bubble up. Make sure to top a weight on it to keep submerged. You may want to place the jar in a bowl to prevent spills. It will/can overflow from the bubbling from fermentation.
• When ready to your liking place in refrigerator and chill a couple more days.
• Enjoy!

BLACK BELUGA LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large wide saucepan on medium heat.
• Add the onion, cumin seeds and rice and cook; about 8-10 minutes.
• Add the garlic; stirring for 1 minute longer.
• Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste. Stir mixture, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for about 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• Remove lid and stir in the lentils and the currants with the rice.
• Sprinkle with black pepper; garnish with parsley and lemon slices.
• Note: Serves four as a side dish or serves two as a main dish.