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Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2012 - 3:52 p.m.


Lentils for a New World


Delicious lentils super star method
******************

- bring 3 cups of big brown lentils to a boil in 5 cups water in big pot
- do not stirr them or put a lid on
- watch carefully as they approach the boiling point as they will cast
off a considerable amount of white foam- remove this carefully with a bog
spoon, it is the water soluble proteins and waxes and starch cloud,
dispose into sink but note the foam will not break down even after if
cools.

** this foam is the part that induces gas so get it all out and don't
listen to anyone who says different

- reduce heat to simmer, put lid on, watch carefully as its only a few
minutes left to cook - maybe 5- 10 max.
- when the lentils are barely cooked el dente- remove from heat, drain off
all water which will be darkish, return them to stove,
NOW with heat off - put lid back on allow their latent heat to dry cook
the lentils completely- aprox 15-20 min.

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This is starting with super delux lentils ---there is enough for three
different dishes

1) LENTIL STEW--my favourite
12 oz tin of diced tomatoes or fresh is even better
2=3 stalks celery chipped fine
1 carrot cut fine
2 onions cut fine or a leek of you can get it
lots of black pepper-
garlic to taste
salt really helps

bring these ingredients to a mild boil, add 1 cup or more of cooked lentils
reduce heat, simmer with lid on low for 20 mins. the rising smell is
wonderful .. Idea is to achieve the most lentils you can get in the mix so
its thicker stew not soupey.

serve in a bowl with - lots of chopped parsley and a good shot of lemon
juice just as you serve it-even a twist of hot sauce- delicious !

** dairy version _ add a blob of sour cream or cottage cheese and then
garnish with chopped parsley and final shot of lemon juice

what you don't finish at that meal thickens up in standing.
it is ideal for microwaved lentil burritos next day

** dairy version.. nuke the lentil , pour on tack flat bread, grate some
sharp cheese over and wrap it up
These are delicious - but if you make extra to eat cold later , put a
leaf of lettuce down first to prevent the taco from getting soaked with
the lentils


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FRIED LENTILS
**************
heat up fry pan,
add oil and when oil gets hot
add tbsn each of ground cumin and black pepper and allow their flavours
to pass into the oil, stirr so it doesn't burn ' about a minute

fine chop an onion, celery green pepper whatever
_grate a little carrot
add to hot flavoured oil

when veggies are hot all way through add 1 cup or more of precooked
lentils add more oil if you wish, stirr fry all till lentils slightly dry
and onions are going transparent and bell pepper & shredded carrot is less
visible..
about 5 min

add some tomato pure fresh or tinned enough to wet it , and chopped
garlic stirr till tomato is hot all the way through a minute or two..
serve on a bed of chopped lettuce and salt if required when assembled..

this with Humus a poached egg and a boiled potato is wonderful

its OK reheated but better made up just once

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LENTIL SOUP
-------------

a small potato diced small
a carrot cut fine
bring to a boil = reduce heat cook till somewhat soft
drain cooking water away

add a fine diced onion,.
2 cups water or broth
1 cup of pre cooked lentils
black pepper
simmer with lid on 15 min
ladle out into bowl
add generous shot of lemon juice
and a little fresh chopped garlic greens or scallions
cilantro whatever you can get

** options: add a little pre cooked pasta before simmering
delicious with a hard boiled egg and or felafels
or you can poach an egg in the soup immnediately before serving

does not reheat as well as fresh assembled-

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LENTIL TACO * a red or white dhal lentil version is equally as good ) _
-------------

add cumin and pepper to hot oil as above in a big fry pan
add finely chopped onions and as much grated carrot as you dare
stirr fry a minute till aroma rises

put 1 cup plus of pre cooked lentils into a blender.food processor with a
little water and pure' to a paste..
add that paste to the veggies in the fry pan and refry just like Mexican
beans, always keep it moving- as you expose the layer of lentil to the
hot pan the sugars caramelize in the little crust that forms at the
bottom, fold that in, expose a new surface let it get slightly crispy fold
that in

as it dries out add a little water- you can;t go wrong if it too wet just
keep cooking till it dries out some more
signs its done:
onions and carrot disappears from sight
aroma is rich
you can see fresh crusting on every fold over


serve on a bed of chopped lettuce= and you can flavour with anything you
like. I prefer diluted Vindaloo curry sauce

** options:
fold into a taco or corn tortilla and add hot sauce

these are remarkably satisfying and keeps me full for hours
I never use dairy on this recipe but you could if you wanted

mixture stores & freezes well so make a lot at once
you can't over make this stuff, you can only undermake it
it nukes wonderfully and makes an instant hot protein dip for natcho chips
or whatever crackers.. you can use fresh veggie to scoop it up
or it is a good quick base for an instant vegetable soup
sort of like a Mexican Miso..

I absolutely adore this stuff
and feel rich when i have a lot around

if lentils are expertly prepared they will not induce gas
if casually prepared you will be changing your underwear
every half hour

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do you ever make felafels from the dry mix? choose a Lebanese or Egyptian
brand, I don';y like the Israeli mixes as its unsifted junk they package
for Arabs they don;t like in the Gazza slums..

mix the felafel powder in very hot water stirr well
it is ready in about 20 minutes rehydration
it is best used within an hour or two of hydration,
it is terribly gluey after 24 hrs and bitter

when ready to fry. have a bunch of finely chopped parsley ready
blend in the chopped parsley with the moist felafel paste and form the 2
inch flattened balls,, The parsley really lightens the texture up and they
are far less greasy and also cook quicker. I usually add parsley its not
an option..

Yum this stuff is all so good going down and passing the next day
esp the felafels which can be constapation killers if not prepared expertly

thanks for the opportunity for me to write it all out

 

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