Green Lentils With Moroccan Spices
A Delicious And Easy To Make Comfort Food
Vegan and gluten free, Green Lentils with Moroccan Spices comes together in less than 45 minutes. It is not only delicious, but healthy too. Lentils are packed with iron, protein and fiber. And the red pepper that a makes the base of the sauce is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.
Green lentils are slightly more rounded than brown lentils and have a mottled green-brown color.
The spices in this dish – including ginger, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, and red pepper – give the lentils a rich, smoky flavor. They are common in Moroccan cuisine, but are readily available. You likely have them all in your pantry already.
Rancho Gordo Heirloom Beans, Lentils, Spices and More
Rancho Gordo is a household name among bean aficionados. Steve Sando started growing heirloom beans 20 years ago. Since then Rancho Gordo has grown to carry a wide variety of specialty beans, grains, herbs, spices and more.
One unique thing about Rancho Gordo is it’s Bean Club. It’s become a rather exclusive club among foodies, and membership is coveted. I am fortunate to be a member and credit the Bean Club with introducing me to many new varieties of beans and other pantry additions. Although anyone can buy Rancho Gordo beans, members of the bean club receive four shipments a year. Each shipment includes six varieties of heirloom beans and one or two other speciality items.
What Bean To Choose Today
Being a member of the Rancho Gordo Bean Club, and a fan of beans and grains in general, my pantry is always well stocked. On a particularly cold day, I wanted to make something warm, both in temperature and flavor. The Rancho Gordo French Green Lentils caught my eye. Green lentils hold their shape well compared to brown lentils, which makes them ideal for saucy dishes or stews.
It’s Easy To Make Green Lentils With Moroccan Spices
For Green Lentils with Moroccan Spices, the lentils are set to cook while the sauce is prepared. The onions, garlic, red pepper and spices are sautéed until soft.
The sautéed mixture is then blended into a rich, creamy sauce. A high speed blender, such as a Vitamix, is ideal for this.
The entire process takes less than 45 minutes and the result is a hearty, rich dish that can be served by itself, or over rice or couscous.
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Green Lentils With Moroccan Spices
Equipment
- 1 High speed blender or food processor
Ingredients
For the Lentils
- 1 Cup dried green lentils Rancho Gordo preferred
- 2 Cups water, lightly salted
Red Pepper Sauce
- 1 Small onion, diced
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Large red bell pepper, chopped
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp ginger, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 Cup water
- 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp olive oil for sautéing cooking spray can be substituted
Instructions
For the Lentils
- Bring water to a boil, add lentils and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 25-30 minutes until water is mostly absorbed and lentils are slightly tender.
For the Red Pepper Sauce
- Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.
- Add onion, garlic and red pepper and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and spices and stir to combine.
- Add 1/2 cup water to deglaze the pan, cook 1-2 minutes.
- Carefully add sautéed vegetables to a high speed blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Add blended vegetables to the cooked lentils and stir in vinegar.
- Season to taste and enjoy!
Notes
For another warm, rich sauce, take a look at my Easy Homemade Red Chili Sauce. It’s a perfect sauce for your Mexican food favorites!
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