Moroccan Lentils & Carrots with Turmeric & Cilantro

This is a wonderful dish that the brings flavors of Morocco to your dinner table!

Ingredients:

• 2-3 table spoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 - 1 table spoon honey (optional)
• 1 cup of dry black beluga lentils
• 4 medium size carrots, cut into rectangular pieces
• Salt
• 1 bunch cilantro, finely cut
• Lemon wedges

  

Preparation:

1. Put dry lentils in a bowl and cover with water IN THE MORNING.
2. EVENING: Heat oil in a heavy casserole pan, add onion, garlic, sauté until soft
3. Add all the spices and sauté for a couple more minutes.
4. Drain the soaked lentils, add to pot together with carrots, add just enough water to cover lentils and carrots, cover with a lid.

   

5. Cook gently for about 15-20 minutes and add water as needed.
6. Season with salt.
7. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with lemon wedges: squeeze lemon juice on dish just before eating it. Serve with your favorite veggies and rice or whole grain couscous.

Bon Appetite!

Lentils with Soba Noodles and Greens

Lentils with Soba Noodles and Greens (vegan)

This is a simple menu that you can put together in just 20 minutes. However, it does require thinking ahead: you have to soak the lentils. I just cover the dried lentils with water in the morning before I leave for work. Doing that significantly reduces cooking time.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of lentils, green, brown or black
• Ginger (fresh is best), thumb size
• Garlic, 4 cloves
• Curry powder
• Coriander powder (optional)
• Turmeric powder (optional)
• Cumin powder (optional)
• Black pepper
• Olive oil
•  Soba noodles
• Greens
• White wine for cooking (2 buck chuck)
• Sesame oil
• Soy Sauce
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Preparation:

• Heat water in pan for soba noodles.
• Press garlic, use 2 cloves for lentils, 2 for greens.
• Saute garlic for lentils in small pan with little bit of olive oil.
• Add Curry powder (and other spices if you are using them) to warm oil.
• Grate fresh ginger with lemon zester (very small grater) and add to pan.
• Drain soaked lentils and add them to pan.
• Add water (cover lentils well and add water as needed.
• Cover and cook until tender, add salt or soy sauce to season five minutes before they are done, about 15 minutes
• Saute garlic in little bit of oil in large frying pan for the greens.
• Add greens.
• Add white wine (about 1 cup), add soy sauce and red pepper flakes
• Cook on low heat with cover on pan until done, about 5 minutes
• Add soba noodles to boiling water (and a bit of salt), cook until done, about 3-4 minutes (do not over cook!)
• Drain noodles and add a bit of sesame oil, for taste.

Serve and enjoy!