Red Lentil Pilaf Recipes

RED LENTIL, QUINOA, AND FLAXSEED PILAF

Steps:

• Rinse and drain lentils and quinoa separately. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add quinoa and flaxseeds; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until quinoa is lightly browned.
• Add lentils and chicken broth. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in sweet pepper and snipped or dried thyme. Cover and cook about 5 minutes more or until quinoa and lentils are tender. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. If desired, garnish with thyme sprigs.

CURRIED RICE PILAF WITH RED LENTILS

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pan with a tight fitting lid, heat oil over medium high heat.
• Add onion, garlic and ginger and sauté for three minutes.
• Add dry rice and dry lentils and sauté for two minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium and add fresh tomato, garam masala and curry paste and stir and cook for one minute.
• Add cilantro, coconut milk and water and raise heat to high.
• Bring to a boil, cover and lower heat to low.
• Cook covered for 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add salt and pepper, stir and let sit covered for five minutes.
• Serve with additional chopped cilantro.

BARLEY AND RED LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pot and add mustard seeds.
• Cook 60 seconds or till they start to pop.
• Add onions and garlic - cook till soft.
• Stir in ground coriander and turmeric - cook one minute more.
• Add barley and stir till well coated.
• Add stock, bring to the boil.
• Simmer on low for 25 minutes, stir occassionally.
• Add red lentils and simmer for another 20 minutes.
• Add cauliflower and peas and cook about 10 minutes till vegetables are tender and nearly all liquid is absorbed.
• Fluff the grains with a fork.
• Stir through coriander and season to taste.

RED LENTIL LOAF

Steps:

• Rinse lentils. Put them in a medium saucepan. Add water just to cover and a good pinch of salt. Bring to a boil high, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes, until very soft. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add cumin, garlic and carrots, seasoning mixture well with salt and pepper. Add lemon zest and juice, and cayenne.
• Transfer drained red lentils and onion mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until it's the consistency of soft mashed potato, a bit lumpy. The mixture should be bright, peppery, lemony and well salted. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• In a small bowl, beat the eggs with a fork. Add the cilantro and beat together. Pour egg mixture into lentil mixture and pulse to incorporate. Add oats and mix in.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a loaf pan with olive oil. Lay a wide strip of parchment paper into the pan, leaving an overhang on two sides to help in removing cake later. Pour lentil mixture into the pan, smoothing the top. Fold excess parchment over the top. Bake until nicely browned, about 1 hour. Remove from pan and let cool. (The loaf is easier to cut if cooled.) Cut into 1-inch slices.
• In a small bowl, mix together yogurt and cucumbers, and season with salt. Warm the slices up briefly in a 350-degree oven, if desired. Even better: Griddle the slices with a bit of oil in a nonstick or cast-iron pan until crisp and golden on both sides. Or simply serve at room temperature.
• Spoon yogurt-cucumber sauce over each slice and sprinkle with scallion, dill and red-pepper flakes. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, if you wish.

LENTIL-AND-RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and caramelized, 35 to 40 minutes. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.
• Meanwhile, in a 3-quart saucepan, bring 5 cups water to a boil. Stir in brown lentils; reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain; rinse pan.
• Return lentils to pan; add long-grain rice and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook until rice is tender and has absorbed liquid, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter onions on pilaf.

RED LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Combine the veggies in a heavy frying pan.
• Cook for about 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly, until the green onion wilts Add the lentils, chicken broth, and garlic.
• Stir.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cayenne pepper and parsley.
• Take care not to overcook, the lentils should have a crunch.