- 1-1/2 cups lentils
- 1-1/2 quarts of tap water (6 cups)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 15 oz can tomatoes
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon basil (optional)
Get out a large stew pot. Put the lentils
in it, and add the water. You can wash the
lentils first in a colander if you like,
they do sometimes have a little dirt in
them, so rinsing them is a good idea. Then
put the clean lentils in your big pot
(4-quart size) and add the tap water. Bring
the lentils to a boil and simmer them on the
back of the stove for about an hour. They
should be nice and soft, if they aren't then
cook them a little longer, until they taste
soft enough to you.
Now get out an iron skillet or another
type of frying pan. Heat the olive oil in
the skillet over medium high heat. Add the
onion and garlic. Quickly sauté the onions
and garlic until they become tender and
translucent. This should only take a couple
of minutes. Then add the tomatoes and basil.
Bring to a slow boil, and simmer for a few
minutes.
Meanwhile, add the salt and pepper to the
lentils. When the tomatoes and onions are
hot, add them to the pot of lentils. Stir it
up and serve. This stew is very hearty. If
you already love lentils, then this recipe
will probably become a favorite. If you
don't like them yet, then this is a good
"get acquainted" recipe. They have a special
flavor which puts one in the mind of getting
closer to the earth.
Offer hot muffins and celery sticks
stuffed with peanut butter on the side.
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