These are simple, fragrant, “general purpose” lentils. They go well with salads, cultured vegetables, bread or flatbread, or roasted chicken. They're also good on a green cabbage leaf, drizzled with a little hot sauce, sort-of as an odd taco if you're into it.
This is a fun recipe for small kids to help with, since everything goes into the pot before it goes on the heat. Once you’ve prepped the veggies, they can toss them in.
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Simply Cooked Lentils
Adapted from the Lentils & Beets with Salsa Verde recipe (pg 143) in A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones.
Notes: If you are gluten-free, pick through your lentils to make sure there aren't any gluten grains in there. I usually find at least one or two; the other day I found 12(!). Then rinse well in a fine-mesh strainer. Also, cooking times for lentils (and other legumes) can vary quite a bit so you may want to check your lentils around 30 minutes. But don't be alarmed if they cook for the full 50 minutes, or even a bit longer.
2 cups green lentils, picked over and rinsed
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium/large carrot or 2 small carrots, diced
5 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
1 bay leaf
Several large sprigs of fresh thyme
3 3/4 cups water
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste
Generous drizzle of olive oil to finish (optional)
Place the lentils, onion, carrots, garlic cloves, bay leaf, thyme and water into a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 40-50 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the lentils are cooked through.
When the lentils are finished cooking, remove the bay leaf and thyme stalks. If most of the thyme leaves are still on the stalks, I usually strip the stalks and put the leaves back into the dish. Next, mash the garlic cloves with the back of a fork (I do this on the side of the saucepan), and add the salt and apple cider vinegar (or lemon). Stir until combined. Taste and adjust the salt and acidity levels as desired. Finish with a generous drizzle of olive oil and enjoy!
