Over the years, I’ve gotten considerably more fond of lentils. They are so much more than just soup. I love lentil salads. And that’s almost what this is (and can be!). It makes a great backdrop for a piece of grilled salmon, cod or Branzino. And that’s what we’re doing with it today. Continue reading
Lentils with Carrot-Fennel-Onion and Orange
18 Sunday Apr 2021
Posted in Carrots, Fennel, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lentils, Make Ahead, Mandarin, Vegetarian
Floating Islands? Seriously…what has happened to The Goddess? Has she been into the Rosé to excess? Or was she out in the sun too long? Everyone knows that “floating islands” is a dessert. Yes. That’s true. Normally, it is. But, as you know there’s nothing normal about The Goddess!
This is summer…or in this case, late spring, on a plate. It’s perfect for lunch or dinner, and can go main course by adding some shrimp or tuna. Use whatever beans you have in your cupboard, but garbanzo or kidney are my favorite for this salad.
This is a quick-fix dinner for Cinco de Mayo. If you have leftover chicken from Sunday dinner, like the
Lentils make a nice “bed” for some lovely roasted chicken. Or a piece of grilled fish or pork chop. Think lentils, instead of rice, pasta or potatoes. And lentils offer some terrific vitamins and minerals, too. Oh yes, did I mention they are also delicious?
We ate a lot of Three Bean Salad when I was a kid. During the summer, my mother made it frequently. I think it was because we all liked it, it made a huge batch and it kept well. All that, and we had almost everything growing in the garden. I started with her recipe, then took a flying leap!
The Dynamite Doula, a young woman who is near-and-dear to us, invited us over for lunch. She has a new “InstaPot”, the pressure cooker-sauté pan-slow cooker pot and a whole lot more. It turns out we have the same one, kindred spirits that we are! Anyway, she, and her Dear One, served us a version of this wonderful, rib-sticking, winter-chasing bean soup. It was supremely delicious, The Spicy Honey loved it and so I decided to see if I can come close to repeating her soup.
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a good bean salad. I ran across a recipe for a bean salad, using garbanzos. I like garbanzo beans, but I prefer kidney beans for a salad. They’re a bit softer and they’re just prettier…and you know, it’s all about how it looks!
This salad is good at any time of the year. It is a great summer salad, as no mayo, but it also is lovely in the autumn, when the leaves turn about the same color as the salad. Make it the day ahead and chill it overnight. But, it’s best eaten at room temperature. Add some red chile flakes for a little heat, when the thermometer dips.
You know how sometimes the culinary gods intervene? This dish came about because those gods were playing and romping through my life. However, as happens now and again, those gods led me to deliciousness! This is redolent with Mexican flavors, it’s filling and it’s flexible!