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A Delicious Healthy Hearty Vegetable Main Course
This Simple Italian Red Lentil Stew is pumped full of great Italian herbs, tomatoes, red peppers and red lentils. I make this dish and eat it throughout the day. It is so versatile to go with so many other Italian style recipes, vegetables and salads. Make early or ahead of time for your meal. The longer it sits in it’s mingled spices and herbs the better the robust taste. This recipe makes 4 servings. Double it because you will want leftovers.
First lets look at the history and the nutrition of lentil stews.
A Little History On Lentils
Well, to the knowledge of the symbolic history of lentils, weddings lavished the bide and groom with good luck and prosperity. This was done by throwing the lentils like rice at the bride and groom and also eating them. I say bring on the festivities to us vegans.
Not only do vegans eat a ton of lentils they have been enjoyed by many countries especially Italy, Ireland and mainly India. Lentils are considered a staple food and are included in nearly every meal in India. India grows over 50 varieties of lentils making a large assortment of delicious dishes.
Being that lentils are eaten so often in many countries they are making people more healthy. Consuming lentils regularly reduces your risk of diabetes, cancer, obesity and heart disease. This is because lentils contain phenols. Phenols are excellent antioxidant. So eat up! Give this Simple Italian Red Lentil Stew a try and let me know how much you love lentils. It’s that good!
What Brand Of Lentils I Use
We love red lentils and cook them all the time. I find that they are the easiest to digest. Plus, they are loaded with protein.
At the moment our favorite brand is right here in our local area of Washington State. We love Clear Creek red lentils from Palouse, Washington. You can find them on line at www.clearcreekfoods.com or on Amazon.
How To Clean Red Lentils
Some people don’t know that when you get your beans, lentils and some grains that you have to rinse them clean. There is still a little residue from the field on them.
Before you rinse them make sure to pick through them to look for any small pebbles mixed in with the lentils. It is very easy for small pieces of dirt and stone to get mingled in with the lentils. Just pour them in your hand a little at a time and watch for any items that don’t belong in with the lentils. It takes a couple of minutes but it’s better them chomping down on a tiny stone.
Rinse the red lentils in a sieve under cool water and swish them around with your hand to help clean them. Let them drain and put them aside until you are ready to use them.
How To Make Simple Italian Red Lentil Stew
After sorting, cleaning and draining the lentils take a medium sized sauce pan that has a lid and heat it on medium heat. Add the olive oil. Let it heat for about a minute. Add the chopped onions and minced garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes as you toss them around in the oil every so often. Add the chopped red peppers, turn the heat to medium low and sauté with the onions and garlic for 2 more minutes.
Add the rest of the spices, herbs and can of diced tomatoes and water. Stir and then cover with a lid. Turn the heat up to medium high until it boils. Then turn the heat down to medium low, with the lid on let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until lentils are soft. When done stir and let sit for 10 minutes to let the flavors mingle. Serve with your favorite side salad and rice. This recipe makes 4 large servings.
We love red lentils and you can find more lentil recipes on this website. I hope you like this delicious dish as much as we do. Enjoy!
More Recipes You May Like:
Vegan Massaman Red Lentil Cauliflower Curry
Quick Soy Free Red Lentil Tofu
Roasted Portobello Mushrooms With Lentil Sun-Dried Tomato Salad
Vegan Lentil Porcini Bolognese Sauce
Vegan Fusilli Corti Bucati Lentil Bolognese With Olives And Capers
Print
Simple Italian Red Lentil Stew
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 to 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 large servings 1x
- Category: Dinner / Lunch
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Simple Italian Red Lentil Stew is pumped full of great Italian herbs, tomatoes, red peppers and red lentils. I make this is dish and eat it throughout the day. It is so versatile to go with so many other Italian style recipes, vegetables and salads. Make early or ahead of time for your meal. The longer it sits in it’s mingled spices and herbs the better the robust taste. This recipe makes 4 servings. Double it because you will want leftovers.
Ingredients
Simple Italian Red lentil Stew
- 1 1/4 cups of Water
- 1 cup Red Lentils
- 1 14.5 oz. can Organic Diced Tomatoes
- 1/3 cup Red Pepper, diced small
- 1 small Yellow Onion, diced small
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced small
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 1/2 tsp dried Basil
- 1/4 tsp dried Marjoram
- 1/4 tsp dried Fennel Seeds
- 1/4 tsp Onion Salt
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- Black Pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, optional
Instructions
Simple Italian Red Lentil Stew
- Sort red lentils through your hands to look for little pebbles. Wash them in a sieve under cool water.
- In a medium pan add the olive oil and heat for 1 minute on medium heat. Add the diced onions and minced garlic. Sauté for two minutes while tossing them around in the oil every so often. ( If you are not using oil add water and sauté in water instead) Add the red diced peppers and sauté with the onions and garlic for another 2 minutes on medium low. Add the sorted and rinsed red lentils, water, diced tomatoes and all the spice and herb ingredients listed above.
- Turn the heat up to medium high with lid on until it boils. Then turn the heat down to medium low and simmer with lid on for 15 to 20 minutes or until lentils are soft.
- Stir and let sit for a 10 minutes to help the flavors to mingle.
- Serve with a side salad and your favorite bread.
- Enjoy!
Hi, can I makethis the day before?
Hello,
Yes, you can but it will get a little thicker. Just add a little more water or vegetable broth or liquid from a can of stewed tomatoes if it’s to thick.