Curried Red Lentil And Swiss Chard Stew With Garbanzo Beans Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the lentils, 2 quarts water and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 40 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Stir the chard into the simmering lentils. Cook another 10 minutes or so, until the lentils and greens are tender. The chard should be tender but still bright. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve, passing the cheese at the table for sprinkling. Alternatively, transfer to an oiled baking dish, top with rounds of goat cheese, crumbled feta or grated Parmesan, and heat through in a medium oven.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot or saucepan, saute the onion in oil over medium high heat for 10-15 minutes or until onion is golden.
• Stir in curry powder and cayenne.
• Add the broth and chard and increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in lentils and garbanzos. Cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes or until lentils are tender (if you use brown lentils it will take longer for lentils to be tender), stirring occasionally.
• Divide soup into bowls and top with sour cream or yogurt, if desired.

Steps:

• Place lentils in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse until cold running water. Set aside.
• In a stock pot, combine the oil, bouquet garni, onion (or leek) swiss chard stems, and 1 teaspoon salt. Sweat-cook, covered, over low heat until soft but not browned- for about 3 minutes.
• Add the stock and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Add the lentils, curry powder, and cayenne and stir. Simmer, covered, until the lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. (Cooking time will depend upon the freshness of the lentils-older lentils take longer to cook).
• Add the chard leaves and the chickpeas and cook until the leaves are wilted, about 5 minutes more. Remove the bouquet garni. Taste for seasoning. (this means add S & P to taste).
• While the stew is cooking, toast the cumin. Watch carefully! They can burn quickly. Place the cumin seeds in a small, dry skillet over moderate heat. Shake the pan regularly until the cumin seeds are fragrant and evenly toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer the cumin to a large plate to cool. Set aside.
• Mix together yogurt and cumin.
• Divide soup among the warmed soup bowls. At the table, garnish with a spoonful of yogurt and a sprinkling of toasted cumin.

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until light gold, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in curry and cayenne. Add 4 cups broth and chard. Increase heat and bring to a boil, stirring, until chard is wilted.
• Stir in lentils and chickpeas. Lower heat to low. Cover and simmer 16 - 18 minutes, stirring twice, until lentils are tender.
• Remove from heat. Puree half of it; return to pot. Stir in last cup of broth and salt. Warm over low for 2 minutes.
• Put into bowls. Top with thinned yogurt. Garnish with slices of jalapeno and lime.