Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Idiot's Guide #1: Chorizo Sausage Lentil and Bean Stew


For the first idiot's guide I decided to go with something really simple and healthy...

and what could be more simple than a complete one pot meal?

I wanted to do something with lentils as they rarely get the credit they deserve. Albeit a small and conveniently forgotten ingredient this legume packs a punch! Lentils are a good source of cholesterol lowering fiber and they are great at managing blood-sugar disorders. In addition to this, lentils are high in protein, low in fat, and contain essential minerals and vitamins. At just 230 calories a cup this is a hearty satisfying meal that your body will thank you for!

Ingredients:

1 Onion cut into wedges
3 Cloves of Garlic sliced
2 Carrots chopped into bit sized pieces
3 Chorizo Sausages cut into chunks
1 teaspoon Thyme (Fresh or Dried)
2 cups of Lentils or Mixed Beans (I used a bag of mixed lentils and beans for this)
1 cup of Red Wine (This is optional and if you don't have wine just put in an additional cup of water or stock)
3 cups of Water or Chicken Stock
1 tablespoon oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Step 1: In a large pot heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium heat.

Step 2: Add the Chorizo Sausage chunks to the pot and fry just till browned.

Step 3: Scoop the browned sausages out of the pan and put them on a plate to use later. Keep the flame going.

Step 4: In the same pot add the onion wedges and the garlic slices and sautee till the onion turns translucent. If the garlic browns too fast turn the heat down a little.

Step 5: Once the onions are translucent add the carrots to the pot and give it a stir.

Step 6: Pour in the wine and scrape up any bits that might have stuck to the bottom of the pot (This is known as deglazing).

Step 7: Add the water/stock and thyme and bring to a boil.

Step 8: Add the lentils/beans and turn the heat down to the lowest it will go (This is known as bringing it down to a simmer). Put the browned Chorizo Sausages back into the pot.

Step 9: Cover the pot and cook till the beans are tender (This can be anywhere from 20 - 40mins). Just check frequently and do a taste test.

Step 10: Once the beans are tender you can turn off the heat. Stir in some salt and pepper, put some in a bowl and enjoy with a nice crusty bread!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds lovely and simple but flavoursome!

Chefspiration said...

yes it is delicious! and even nicer the next day...I had it last night for leftovers...the flavors were even more intense :)

Anonymous said...

Yummy...I love lentils and I absolutely love chorizo! Keep the recipes coming! :-)