Warm Lentil salad

What a cold, windy and rainy day we got right now, defenetly not the weather for being outside. But I have to, cause my little nephew got his Birthday today, he will be 3 today and my sister is making a little Birthdaycelebration with the family. It will me a coffee and cake meeting. He's so cute and so fast growing. He was born in America, Texas. (my sister lived there with her husband - he got the chance to work abord and they came back to switzerland this years spring).

 

I'm not really a lentil lover, can't tell you why, thats something I got from my father and grandfather. Nobody in my family loves Lentil. On occasionaly I try to make something with them but till now I didn't figured out in with ways I could eat them.

 

This time I tryed to put them in salad with some Brussels and I was good I have to say :) I guess this way is one option for me to eat the lentils....

 

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Warm French Lentil and Brussels Sprout Salad

Serves 2 as an entree or 4 as a side

1 cup french lentils
3 cups vegetable broth (or water)
1 pound Brussels sprouts, cut into ribbons (lay sprouts on their sides and slice thin, creating green ribbons)
1-inch piece of ginger, grated
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 scallions, chopped
1 avocado, pit removed and chopped
freshly grated pepper and sea salt to taste

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Add your lentils and vegetable broth (or water) to a pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, then bring down to a simmer. Simmer until lentils are cooked and tender (about 30 - 45 minutes). Drain any extra liquid from the pot.

Using your hands, mix the Brussels sprouts with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ginger, and garlic. Use your fingers to get the oil worked into the Brussels sprouts well. Lay flat on a sheet pan and place in the oven for 8 minutes, turning them after 4 minutes. When cooked, the Brussels sprouts should be tender (but not mushy) and the garlic and ginger will be fragrant.

Divide the Brussels sprouts evenly amongst your plates. Top with the lentils. Add the chopped scallions, avocado, salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle with a little olive oil over the top. Serve warm.

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Quinoa Pasta with Golden Beets and Greens

 Serves 4 - 6

2 bunches of beets and greens
1 cup french lentils, uncooked (optional)
1 pound of dry pasta
4 Tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 medium yellow onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste
a sprinkle of nutritional yeast (optional)

Wash the beets thoroughly. Chop the beet greens and put them aside. Place the beets in a medium pot, add enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook on medium heat for 45 - 60 minutes, or until the skins can be rubbed off with your fingers. (To test one, fish it out of the pot with a pair of tongs and run it under cold water until it's cool enough to handle.) When the beets are ready, give them a few minutes to cool, then peel the beets using your fingers and cut them into bite-size pieces.

Meanwhile, cook the lentils (if using). Add two cups of water to a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Add the lentils and cook until they are done (but not mushy), about 25 minutes. Drain if necessary.

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain.

Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a pan over medium-low heat and sauté the onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and beet greens and sauté for an additional 3 -5 minutes, until the greens are tender. Remove the pan from the heat and toss contents with the olive oil, pasta, and beets. 
Top with freshly ground black pepper, sea salt, and a little nutritional yeast if desired.

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