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Stewed Lentils

17/11/2023

Stewed lentils are a hearty and nutritious dish, very common in Italian cuisine, especially as a side dish during New Year’s Eve dinner, as they are said to bring fortune and prosperity. The dish can vary in its preparation methods depending on the Italian regions, but here is a classic version:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of dry lentils
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 stick of celery
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 500 ml of vegetable broth or water
  • 250 g of canned peeled tomatoes or tomato purée
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • (Optional) Red chili pepper to taste
  • (Optional) Pancetta or guanciale, diced, for a richer version

Preparazione

  1. Rinse the lentils under running water and check for any stones or impurities.
  2. Finely chop the onion, carrot, and celery to prepare a soffritto. Crush the garlic cloves.
  3. In a large pot, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the chopped vegetables along with the garlic and bay leaf. Sauté until the mixture is golden. If you have chosen to use pancetta or guanciale, add it at this stage.
  4. Add the lentils to the pot and lightly toast them together with the vegetables for a few minutes.
  5. Pour in the peeled tomatoes or tomato purée and stir. If using peeled tomatoes, lightly crush them with a wooden spoon as they cook.
  6. Add the vegetable broth or water until it covers all the lentils. You can adjust for salt and pepper and, if you like, add a piece of red chili pepper to give it a spicy touch.
  7. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer with the lid partially open for about 30-45 minutes or until the lentils are tender but not falling apart.
  8. If the liquid dries out too much during cooking, you can add some hot water.
  9. Once ready, remove the bay leaf and garlic, and serve hot, with a raw drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Remember that lentils do not need to be soaked like other legumes, but if you prefer, you can still soak them for a few hours before cooking; this may slightly reduce cooking time.

Curiosity

Lentils have been one of the first foods to be cultivated by humans and are a symbol of abundance in many cultures, not only in Italy. They are particularly valued for their high content of protein and fiber.