Hearty stew

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 400 g lentils, green
• 3 onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• olive oil
• 500 g tomatoes, in pieces (from the can)
• 1 tsp spice paste (paprika paste)
• pepper
• Salt
• 1 chili pepper(s)
• Parsley, flat
• Beef broth or vegetable broth

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Total time approx. 30 minutes

with green lentils, tomatoes, garlic, Cabanossi and the spiciness of chili

A few words about the ingredients. I prefer small green lentils. They’re finer than the coarse brown ones and simply taste much better. These lentils also have the advantage of not requiring soaking. Simply boil them in salted water, which takes about 20 minutes; checking for the bite is a given. At the same time, preparations for the tomato portion of the event are underway. Peel and dice the onions and garlic cloves, then gently sauté the pieces in olive oil. Add the tomato pieces. In winter, you should feel free to use canned tomatoes; aromatic fruits are hard to come by fresh. The spiciness comes from paprika paste, which you can find in jars in Turkish grocery stores, for example. It’s best to test it first with half a teaspoon and then work your way up to the desired spiciness. Don’t forget the salt and pepper. Slice the Cabanossi as a garnish. The Spanish garlic sausage, chorizo, is also delicious with the lentils. The lentil stew is also great for using up leftovers. I recently chopped up pieces of braised lamb shank and added them to the stew – a wonderful combination. The lentils are now cooked, and the cooking water has turned a color between dark green and black. Drain them and add the tomatoes to the lentils, or vice versa. Be sure to choose a larger pot. Now it’s time to add the finishing touches. When the stew is almost ready, add beef or vegetable stock to bring it to the desired consistency. Season with pieces of chili pepper, salt, and pepper. A splash of vinegar is also an option. At the very end, mix in half a bunch of chopped flat-leaf parsley – and you and your guests are ready to really heat things up. On the drinks side, everything from white and red wine to mineral water and beer is available.