Beets and lentils are great friends. This week I decided to branch out from my usual beet salad and try this dish of Lentils with Roasted Beets from Canal House Cooking Volume No. 6 by Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton, mostly because I had all of the ingredients on hand.
What I was expecting was a hearty side that incorporated the sweet earthiness of beets with meaty little lentils; what I got was so much more. Sweet, savory, and totally earthy, especially when cooked with onion, garlic, a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Whether you're serving this as a vegetarian main or just a side, the lentils and beets can be enjoyed hot, cold, or at room temperature.
Reprinted with permission from Canal House Cooking Volume No. 6 by Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton, copyright © 2011. Published by Canal House.
Recipe Details
Lentils with Roasted Beets Recipe | Cook the Book
Ingredients
4 small beets
1 1/2 cups lentils
3 cups water
1 small peeled onion
2 garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Chopped scallions or parsley for garnish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°.
Wrap the beets individually in aluminum foil
and put them in a baking pan. Roast the beets until tender, about 1 hour.While the beets roast, rinse the lentils in cold water. Put the lentils in a medium pot with 3 cups water, onion, garlic cloves, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat to low, and gently simmer until all the water has been absorbed and the lentils are tender, about 1 hour.
Add more water if you need to. Use a slotted spoon to fish out the onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Remove the beets from the oven, unwrap, and when cool enough to handle, slip off the skins. Dice the beets, then add them to the lentils. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle generously with a really good extra-virgin olive oil, and garnish with lots of chopped parsley and scallions.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
231 | Calories |
3g | Fat |
40g | Carbs |
13g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 4 to 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 231 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 3g | 4% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 2% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 369mg | 16% |
Total Carbohydrate 40g | 15% |
Dietary Fiber 7g | 25% |
Total Sugars 8g | |
Protein 13g | |
Vitamin C 6mg | 30% |
Calcium 38mg | 3% |
Iron 4mg | 22% |
Potassium 610mg | 13% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |