It’s no secret that I love lentils. They’re so tasty, nutritious, versatile and — yes, I’m going to say it — cute; how could I resist them? Oh, I need to add economical too. These little legumes are culinary powerhouses.
I have many recipes on the blog featuring or otherwise including lentils, and don’t see any reason to stop adding to them. One of my favourite and easiest lentil dishes to make is one that I call Braised Lentils. I’ve been making it for years and have been meaning to write about it for ages, but it’s always been overshadowed by showier lentil recipes. Until now.
With some cooked lentils in the fridge and a few vegetables in the crisper, you can put together this wholesome and tasty dish quite quickly. It’s basically finely diced vegetables, lentils, broth and a dash of vinegar for a sprightly touch. We enjoyed the lentils photographed for this post alongside baked Italian sausages for a simple supper. Mostly though, I’ve made braised lentils to take to work for a nutritious lunch. Any time I ate them at my desk someone was sure to stop by my doorway to ask what I was having. Apparently they inspire curiosity.
I do like to take the time to finely mince the vegetables so their size doesn’t overwhelm the diminutive lentils. There’s no need to do that, but what can I say, it makes me happy. So does looking at the photo below of the brilliantly coloured veg; spring has been slow to arrive this year, but I’d say that plate of dazzling colour helps make up for it.
I made this batch with French green lentils, which are slightly smaller than some other varieties, but it doesn’t really matter which you use as long as it’s not the red ones. You want the lentils to retain their unique shape and character, and red lentils quickly turn to mush.
A quick tip: if you have leftover braised lentils, just add some extra oil and vinegar to make a loose dressing and spoon them over a green salad. So. Good.
Braised Lentils
You can use any type of lentil for this recipe except the red ones, which will turn mushy. You want the completed dish to retain the shape and character of each of the ingredients, while melding them harmoniously together.
This recipe is enough for a dinner side dish for two.
- 1 tbsp grapeseed oil
- 1/2 cup finely diced carrots
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 1 tbsp minced red chill pepper
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 2 cups cooked lentils (French green, green, brown or beluga)
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
As you prepare the vegetables, take a moment to notice how fresh and invigorating their scent is in your kitchen. That’s especially important at the dreary end of winter when it seems that the windows have been closed forever and spring is but an elusive hope.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and then add the colourful medley of vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften.
Turn the heat to low and add the lentils, salt, pepper. Cook for about ten minutes until the lentils are heated through. Splash in the chicken stock and continue to cook, stirring from time to time, until the stock has been absorbed and both the lentils and the vegetables have a pleasing degree of toothsomeness.
Stir in the balsamic vinegar, then taste and adjust the seasonings as required.
