Recipe: Salmon with lentils and beets

The inspiration for this dish came from an amazing meal I had at The Farm on Adderly, one of my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn.

I decided to try my hand at making this recipe for myself and was really pleased with how it came out. I love how the beets add a nice color to the lentils, making this a very attractive dish.

Try if for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Serves 4

1.5 cups french green lentils
2 small carrots, diced into 1/4 inch cubes
3 small beets, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic
a sprig of fresh rosemary and thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 salmon fillets, about 1/2 pound each, with skin on
minced fresh parsley (for garnish)

Rinse and pick over the lentils then place in a large saucepan with water to cover. Simmer over medium heat until they begin to soften, 15 to 20 minutes, then add the carrots, beets, garlic, bay leaves and herbs. Continue to cook, adding water as necessary (keep this to a minimum), until the lentils and vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes in total. Season with salt and pepper, add the olive oil and keep warm.

Brush salmon fillets with olive oil and cook in cast iron pan over high heat. Three minutes on each side.

Divide lentils equally over three plates. Rest salmon fillet on top. Garnish with parsley.

Recipe: Lentils and Rice with Fried Onions

Mujadarrah is the traditional name for this Middle Eastern dish. And as plain as it looks and sounds, it is really delicious. My version was inspired by the book Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison.

It only requires six ingredients, all of which are items I keep regularly in my pantry (i.e. brown rice, lentils, onions, olive oil, salt, pepper). So it's great around this time of year when you'd rather stay in and not run to the store.

The fried onions are really what make this dish delicious. You want to cook them until they become dark brown. It might seem like a lot of olive oil, but it's really what makes this dish good.

I love teaching this dish to vegetarians, as it is a great source of protein - the amino acids in the brown rice, complementing those in the lentils. It is also great to take to work or on long car trips and can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature.

This dish is similar to an Indian dish, kichadi, which is often enjoyed with yogurt and Indian pickle. It works with this dish too!

Serves 4

1 cup French green lentils, rinsed and sorted
1 cup basmati brown rice
1 large onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
6 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Heat large skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with olive oil and add onions. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are dark brown and translucent.

While preparing onions, put lentils in saucepan with 4 cups water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes. Add the rice, and generous amounts of pepper. Cover and let cook over low heat for an additional 15 minutes, adding additional water if needed. When done, stir in fried onions. Add salt to taste.

Similar dish:
Falafel with quinoa tabouli

Recipe: Red Lentil Soup with Mustard Greens and Lime

This recipe is a variation of classical Indian dahl. Red lentils? The bright yellow color of this summery soup comes from turmeric, a great medicinal spice. Enjoy!

Serves 4 to 6

2 cups split red lentils, picked over and rinsed several times
1 tablespoon turmeric
4 tablespoons butter
Salt
1 large onion, finely diced (about 2 cups)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1 bunch mustard greens, chopped (or other green vegetable)
Juice of 3 limes or to taste
1 cup cooked rice
4 to 6 tablespoons yogurt

Put the lentils in a soup pot with 2 1/2 quarts water, the turmeric, 1 tablespoon of the butter, and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the lentils are soft and falling apart, about 20 minutes.

While the soup is cooking, prepare the onion flavoring:
In a medium skillet over low heat, cook the onion in 2 tablespoons of the remaining butter with the cumin and mustard, stirring occasionally. When soft, about the time the lentils are cooked or after 15 minutes, add the cilantro and cook for a minute more.

Add the onion mixture to the soup, then add the juice of 2 limes. Taste, then add more if needed to bring up the flavors. The soup should be a tad sour.

Just before serving:
Add then last tablespoon of butter to a wide skillet. When foamy, add the mustard greens and cook just long enough to wilt.

If the rice is warm, place a spoonful in each bowl. If it's leftover rice, add it to the soup and let it heat through for a minute.

Serve the soup, divide the mustard greens among the bowls, and swirl in a spoonful of yogurt.

-Recipe adapted from"Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" by Deborah Madison