Good morning! Lazy day! Still in pajamas at 10 am! Breakfast is an Ecuadorian stew from the freezer with mozzarella cheese & fresh spinach. Paulina's Ecuadorian Lentil Stew { Menestra De Lentejas} (adapted from this recipe by Laylita).
Soup Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Servings: 6 Ingredients
Type: Soup
Rating: Easy
★★★★★
Ingredients:
2-3 tbs oil 1 red onion diced
1 bell pepper diced
3 tomatoes diced
6 garlic cloves minced
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp achiote powder or ground achiote
4 tbsp chopped cilantro
7 cups of water
1 lb lentils rinsed
Salt to taste
Green or ripe plantain - optional; see notes at the end
mozzarella & fresh spinach (for topping)
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan or cooking pot on medium heat.
Add the onion, bell pepper, tomato, garlic, cumin, salt, achiote, and 2 tablespoons of cilantro to make a refrito for the stew.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until all the ingredients have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the water and increase heat to bring the water to a boil.
Add the lentils, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover partially, and cook until tender.
Taste and add salt if needed, stir in the remaining 2 tbsp of cilantro and remove from the heat.
Top with fresh mozzarella cheese and homegrown spinach (not traditional, but still yummy), and enjoy!
Notes:
For an extra boost of flavor, prepare a quick refrito or sofrito by sauteeing about 1/2 onion with a few cloves of crushed garlic, a couple of diced tomatoes, and ground cumin/achiote powder/salt to taste until the ingredients are softened and you have a flavorful sauce. Stir in the sauce to the main menestra when the lentils are cooked.
To add green plantain, peel green plantain and grate it using a fine grater; stir the grated plantain into the menestra during the last ~15-20 minutes of cooking, and mix it well so that it integrates into the stew - you will notice how it thickens the dish and adds a slight plantain flavor. To add a sweet plantain, peel and cut it into 1/2 to 1-inch slices and add them to the menestra during the last 20-25 minutes of cooking; they should be fully cooked by the time the dish is ready.
Happy Cooking!
Feel free to contact me by clicking here with any questions or concerns!
~ Leah Brooks
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