Best Lentil Ragout Recipes

VENISON AND LENTIL RAGOUT

Steps:

• Mix the venison with the vinegar and two tablespoons of the olive oil. Allow to marinate for two hours.
• Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a heavy casserole. Add the onion, saute until it begins to soften, then add the mushrooms and carrot and saute about six minutes longer. Stir in the garlic.
• Add the wine, water, thyme, pepper, lentils and the venison with the marinade. Bring to a simmer, cover and allow to simmer for about one hour, until the lentils and the venison are tender. Stir in the beef stock and continue to cook about 20 minutes longer, until the stock is absorbed. Season to taste with salt and serve.

SLOW-COOKED LAMB SHANKS WITH LENTIL RAGOUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately slow (160c).
• Toss lamb shanks in seasoned flour, heat oil in a large saucepan and brown shanks in batches for 4-5 minutes or until browned all over. Transfer to a plate.
• Saute onion, carrot, celery and chili in same pan for 4-5 minutes until onion is tender. Stir through lentils, tomatoes water, wine and vinegar and bring to the boil.
• Place the lamb and sauce mixture into a large oven proof casserole dish; bake covered, stirring a couple of times for 1 1/2 hours.
• Uncover and cook a further hour or until meat is almost falling off the bone.
• Stir parsley through and serve over mashed potatoes with green vegetables if desired.

ROASTED CARROT AND RED LENTIL RAGOUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lay the carrots in a roasting pan and toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the carrots, add the onion and roast 15 minutes, until the carrots are brown and tender. When carrots are cool enough, cut them in 1/4-inch dice.
• Warm 2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan. Add the carrot-and-onion mixture, the chili powders and the cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the lentils. Add the stock and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the lentils are falling apart. Season with remaining salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice, or as a thick soup.

LENTIL AND VEGETABLE RAGOUT (KORMA)

Steps:

• Put the lentils and turmeric in a deep pot. Add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cook lentils, gently simmering, partially covered, until cooked but still hold their shape, about 30 minutes. Stir a few times during cooking to ensure the lentils are not sticking to the pan and burning. Add more water if necessary. Add squash, tomatoes, onions and curry powder and mix well. Cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables and lentils are tender. Stir in the nuts and salt; cover and set aside. Heat the ghee or oil in a small frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add cumin and cook until the spice turns several shades darker. Add asafetida and crushed pepper. Let spices sizzle for a minute then put the entire contents of the pan over the lentil-vegetable mixture. Add coriander and stir just a few times to mix lightly. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with deep fried balloon bread.
• Heat stick of butter in a small saucepan over low-heat until fully melted, 5 minutes. Increase heat and cook the butter until all its moisture evaporates and the milk solids turn brown, and the clear fat will turn golden amber, about 5 minutes. Strain the clear fat usli ghee into a jar.

LENTIL RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, heat oil and cook onion and garlic together for 7 to 8 minutes.
• Add lentils, broth, parsley, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper to saucepan. Simmer 20 minutes.
• Slice turnips in half and cut carrots into 2-inch lengths. Cut green onions into 1-inch pieces.
• Add turnips and carrots to saucepan and cook 10 minutes.
• Add peas and green onions and cook for 5 minutes more.

SPICED GREEN LENTIL RAGOûT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy saucepan or cast-iron casserole set over a low to medium heat. Tip in the onions, garlic and chilli and stir well. Gently cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and very lightly coloured.
• Stir all the spices into the onion mixture and gently fry for 1-2 minutes. Add the lentils and stock, then bring to the boil, uncovered, over a raised heat. Reduce to a steady simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, adding a generous pinch of sea salt halfway through.
• Meanwhile, put the tomato into a mug or heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 1 minute. Run under cold water, then strip off the skin. Halve the tomato, flick out the seeds, then chop the flesh into a rough mush and set aside.
• When the lentils are just tender but the consistency of the mixture is still sloppy and juicy (add more stock or water if necessary), remove the pan from the heat and fish out as many of the spices as possible. Season with black pepper, check to see if more salt is needed, then stir in the tomato and the herbs.

TURKEY LENTIL RAGOUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Meatballs: In a bowl, combine the turkey, bread crumbs, half the garlic, 3 Tsp of mint, parsley, paprika, cumin, cloves, cayenne, the 3/4 teaspoons salt and the 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix well. Divide the mixture into 24 equal portions and form each into a meatball. Place on a baking sheet (cover with foil to speed clean up) and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Meanwhile, remove and discard any damaged lentils or stones. Rinse the lentils. Set aside. (Soaking lentils in water will speed up their cooking time. If you do, drain them before cooking).
• In a large saute pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot and the remaining garlic and saute, stirring until the onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Add the lentils, 1 cup of the reserved tomato juice and the chicken stock and simmer gently, uncovered, until the lentils are tender, about 20 minutes longer. Keep tasting the lentils to make sure they are cooked enough.
• Chop enough tomatoes to measure 1 cup; reserve the remaining tomatoes for another meal. Add the meatballs and chopped tomatoes to the lentils and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, or increase the heat by adding more cayenne (or hot paprika if you have some).
• Ladle into bowls, garnish with remaining 5 Tblsps of mint (or parsley) and serve.