Lentil Stew With A Mediterranean Twist Recipes

SLOW COOKER MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Warm water and vegetable bouillon in a slow cooker on High until dissolved. Add lentils, carrots, and potatoes.
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin and coriander and cook and stir until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add oil, followed by onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and transfer to the slow cooker. Stir. Add tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Stir in spinach.
• Cook on High, stirring every 30 minutes, until lentils are tender and stew has thickened, 3 to 4 hours.

MEDITERRANEAN LAMB AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the lamb cubes and bones and brown on all sides, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add onion and garlic and continue cooking about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in the lentils, 2 cups of the chicken broth, tomatoes, carrots and the thyme, sage and basil. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the lentils are tender but not quite done, stirring occasionally. Depending on the type and freshness of the lentils, this will take from 15 to 30 minutes. If the stew seems dry, add more broth (up to one cup additional). Discard the lamb bones.
• Add the spinach and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Garnish individual servings with some of the crumbled cheese.

MOROCCAN BEEF AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Add carrots, celery, and onion; cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add beef. Sprinkle salt, turmeric, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, coriander, and allspice over beef and vegetables. Stir to mix. Continue to cook mixture until beef is browned, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomato paste until well combined and cook for 1 minute. Add in beef broth, molasses, and bay leaves. Bring stew to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender, about 50 minutes.
• Mix in lentils and dried apricots. Bring stew back to a simmer. Cover and continue to cook on low, stirring occasionally, until lentils soften, about 15 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaves. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, and mix in fresh lemon juice to taste just before serving.

LENTIL STEW WITH A MEDITERRANEAN TWIST

Steps:

• Cut/dice the red skin potatoes into approx 1/2-inch-ish cubes, with skin still on. I generally use smaller golfball-to-racquetball sized potatoes. Grate the zest from 2 small -to-medium lemons into a dish, and then juice the lemons, a little extra juice/zest (beyond wht the recipe calls for) is okay.
• In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, stirring for 30 seconds over medium heat. Add the chicken stock and the lentils, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for at least 10 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Sample the lentils, checking every few minutes for soft smooth texture, replace cover and simmer till the lentil texture is as soft as you prefer.
• Add the lemon juice, zest, and spinach. Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the spinach wilts. Fold in the mint and parsley. Adjust the seasonings (salt & pepper to taste).
• Serve with crumbled feta.
• Notes: 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes can also be added with the lentils & chicken stock at the first stage - I like it better without the tomatoes, but I thought I'd note that variation if you are tomato-inclined.

VERONICA'S MEDITERRANEAN BULGUR AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Chop bell pepper, parsley and onion.
• In a medium saucepan, bring water and lentils to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to medium/medium-low and simmer for about 25 minutes- COVERED.
• Stir in bulgur wheat and black pepper.
• Continue to simmer- UNCOVERED- until lentils are tender and water is absorbed (should take about 10 to 15 minutes).
• In a skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat and sauté onion and bell pepper until tender (about 4 minutes).
• Stir onion and pepper into bulgur mixture, sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.