Middle Eastern Pasta With Lentils Recipes

Steps:

• in a small covered saucepan, bring the lentils, water and salt to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer till tender, about 40 minutes, stir occasionally.
• when the lentils are done, drain them if all the water has not been absorbed.
• while the lentils cook, puree the tomatoes, garlic, chile, oil, vinegar and salt in a blender.
• Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
• reduce the heat and simmer briskly, uncovered, until thick, about 20-25 minutes.
• stir occasionally, as the sauce begins to cook, and more frequently as it begins to thicken.
• while the lentils and hot sauce simmer, cook the rice. rinse the rice well in a sieve and drain.
• warm the oil in a saucepan and add the rice, water and salt.
• Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer on very low heat, till the water is absorbed and the rice is done, about 15 minutes.
• meanwhile, pour about 1/2 inch oil inot a medium cast iron or nonstick skillet. on high heat, warm the oil till it is very hot, almost smoking.
• Add about half of the onions,fry, stirring often until the onions are quite brown, about 10 minutes.
• remove and drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle the onions with 1/8 t of salt.
• repeat with the rest of the onions.
• as you begin to fry the second batch of onions, bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the macaroni. by now, the hot sauce has probably finished cooking, so you have a free burner.
• cook the pasta till al dente and then drain.
• to serve, mound the lentils, macaroni, and rice in adjoining piles on a large platter.
• sprinkle with the fried onions and top with some of the hot sauce.
• serve immediately and serve with more hot sauce.

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, water and bay leaf and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 to 40 minutes or until the lentils are tender but not mushy.
• Add salt to taste toward the end of the cooking.
• Drain off most of the liquid, but reserve it in case some is needed later.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet and sauté the onions until tender and beginning to color.
• Add the garlic, coriander, and cumin, and continue to sauté a couple of minutes, stirring.
• Stir this mixture into the lentils and add cayenne and black pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to the boil, add salt to taste, and cook the noodles until al dente.
• Drain and add to the lentils.
• Add the yogurt, and toss together.
• Add some of the reserved lentil cooking water if mixture seems too dry.
• Reheat gently if necessary and serve at once.

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a heavy saucepan with the halved onion, the halved garlic cloves, and the bay leaf. Add enough water to cover by 1 1/2 inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes. Add salt to taste (under-salt slightly because you will be reducing the liquid) and continue to simmer for another 10 to 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender but intact. Remove from the heat. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain the lentils. Begin heating a large pot of generously salted water for the pasta. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the chopped onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes, and add the red pepper. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender and the onion is beginning to color, another 5 to 8 minutes, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt, the garlic, coriander, cumin, and cayenne or Aleppo pepper. Continue to cook, stirring, for a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and stir in the broth from the lentils. Bring to a boil and reduce slightly, then stir in the lentils. Add pepper, taste and adjust salt. Keep warm while you cook the pasta. When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook al dente, until firm to the bite, following the timing instructions on the package but checking a few minutes before the end of the suggested cooking time. Drain and toss with the lentils. Add the cilantro, and serve.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a rolling boil, add the lentils, and cook, covered over a medium high heat, until nearly but not entirely tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add the garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat, cover and continue to simmer briskly for another 10 minutes, stirring a few times, or until the lentil are fully tender.
• If using capellini, break it into 2 to 4 inch pieces and add them to the lentils. Cook, covered, at a steady simmer, stirring several times and scraping the bottom of the pot when you do. Cook until the pasta is just done, stirring more frequently as it gets closer to that point. If using a small tubular pasta or pasta mista, cook the pasta at least halfway in plenty of salted boiling water. Drain the pasta, add it to the lentils, and simmer to finish cooking the pasta.
• When either pasta is cooked to taste, remove the pot from the heat, stir in the parsley, cover the pot, and let stand about 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot, passing hot pepper oil all the best quality extra virgin olive oil for drizzling on top.