Winter Squash Chickpea Red Lentil Stew Recipes

SQUASH, CHICKPEA & RED LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Soak chickpeas in enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches for 6 hours or overnight. (Alternatively, use the quick-soak method: Place beans in a large pot with enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour.) Drain when ready to use.
• Combine the soaked chickpeas, squash, carrots, onion, lentils, broth, tomato paste, ginger, cumin, salt, saffron and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Put on the lid and cook on low until the chickpeas are tender and the lentils have begun to break down, 5 to 6 1/2 hours.
• Stir in lime juice. Serve sprinkled with peanuts and cilantro.

SPICY LENTIL & CHICKPEA STEW

Steps:

• In a small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, oregano and pepper flakes; cook and stir until onion is tender, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker., Add chickpeas, lentils, olives and paprika; stir in broth and tomato sauce. Cook, covered, on low 8-10 hours, until lentils are tender. Stir in spinach. Top servings with yogurt.

WINTER SQUASH, CHICKPEA & RED LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Soak chickpeas in enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches for 6 hours or overnight. (Alternatively, use the quick-soak method: Place beans in a large pot with enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour.) Drain when ready to use. If you like a very soft chickpea, use the quick method and let the chickpeas boil for five minutes in order to speed up the cooking process.
• Chef's note: Keep your squash and carrots large so that they can withstand the look cooking time without breaking down into the stew.
• Combine the soaked chickpeas, squash, carrots, onion, lentils, broth, tomato paste, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, salt, saffron and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Put on the lid and cook on low until the chickpeas are tender and the lentils have begun to break down, about 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours.
• Chef's note: If you are planning to serve part of this as leftovers, remove that portion from the crock pot and scale the amount of lime juice accordingly. Reserve the rest of your lime to add after reheating the leftover stew.
• Stir in lime juice. Season with salt to taste.
• Serve over rice (white or brown) sprinkled with peanuts and cilantro.
• Place additional lime wedges on the side for diners to add as they wish.

SQUASH, CHICKPEA & RED LENTIL STEW (HEALTHY; SLOW-COOKER)

Steps:

• Cover chickpeas in cold water by at least 2 inches. Soak overnight and then drain.
• Combine the soaked chickpeas, squash, carrots, onion, lentils, broth, tomato paste, ginger, cumin, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker.
• Cook on low until tender - I left mine on for the full 10+ hours since I had a long day.
• If you are serving it all stir in lime juice (otherwise add when you serve). Serve sprinkled with cilantro.

RED LENTIL VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Make the stew: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme, garlic, squash, turmeric, lentils, and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until squash is almost tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Stir in chickpeas and kale and simmer until kale is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the yogurt-herb sauce: Stir to combine yogurt, parsley, and lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle stew into a serving bowl and serve dolloped with yogurt sauce. Garnish with parsley sprigs.

PURéED WINTER SQUASH AND RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in large, heavy soup pot. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
• Stir in turmeric, squash, red lentils and 2 quarts water. Turn up heat, add salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, skim off foam, cover and simmer 35 to 45 minutes, until squash and lentils are tender. Taste and adjust salt.
• Purée soup using an immersion blender or, working in batches, in a blender (pull a towel down over the top of blender to avoid hot splashes). Return to pot if using blender. Add black pepper, taste and adjust salt, and heat through.
• Just before serving, heat butter over medium heat in a small skillet or saucepan and add remaining 2 teaspoons mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds. Cook, stirring, until seeds are lightly colored and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir into soup.
• Serve with a generous dollop of yogurt and a sprinkling of cilantro if desired.