Strange beans and seeds

In the interest of using up the groceries we already have, I came across 2/3 of a big of lentils.  I don't ever remember cooking with lentils, and what kind of recipe only uses 1/3 a bag?  So I was pretty unsure of what I might come up with.  Alton Brown to the rescue!

Alton Brown Lentil Soup recipe

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
• 1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
• 2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Directions

Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately.

I used fennel instead of celery, because we had fennel.  Not really sure why, since no one around here likes fennel.  But it did give me a chance to show the little one, who keeps all seeds she find in food, including oranges, apples and the fennel seeds in her sausage, (which she calls sausage seeds) that if she were to actually plant the sausage seeds, this is what would grow.

   

Comments

[Missy]

Oh- wish I liked beans. Just can't do them. PS- thought you might like to see one of your onesies in action! Here's the link. There's also a whole album on the side bar. I love it so much!!!! thank you thank you thank you! You have such a gift!

http://lovethesimplethings.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/l-is-for-laney.html

[your sister]

eeewwwww fennel

[Kristin]

I have some lentils to use up - I might just give this a try! It looks TASSSTY! :)