quick lentil stew

Name: quick lentil stew
Ingredients: 2 cups brown lentils, rinsed; 2 tablespoons olive oil (If you use bacon you don't need this); 5 cloves minced garlic; 1 medium chopped onion; 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste; 4 cups water (or vegetable broth); 2 pieces bacon or 1 piece smoked ham hock or 1 piece of smoked beef neck bone; 3 tablespoons garam masala (optional); 1 tablespoon cumin (optional); salt and pepper; paprika

11 ingredients

6 steps

Ingredients

2 cups brown lentils, rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil (If you use bacon you don't need this)
5 cloves minced garlic
1 medium chopped onion
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
4 cups water (or vegetable broth)
2 pieces bacon or 1 piece smoked ham hock or 1 piece of smoked beef neck bone
3 tablespoons garam masala (optional)
1 tablespoon cumin (optional)
salt and pepper
paprika

Directions

1

In a soup pot, put in the oil and saute garlic and onion until soft; if you are using bacon, cook bacon till done, drain excess bacon grease, then saute the garlic and onion in remaining bacon grease.
2

Add lentil, tomato paste, and water, (if you are using smoked meat, add it at this time), bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to simmer for about an hour to an hour and half (if you like the stew to be al dente, cook for an hour and check to see if it's the texture you like).
3

Remove meat from stew.
4

You can also make a vegetarian version by eliminating the meat product and substitute vegetable broth for water.
5

Add paprika, salt and pepper to taste, and spices (I bastardized this traditional Hungarian recipe with some Indian spices to add some heat, it seem to blend well) and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, serve hot; with crusty bread.
6

This makes a quick, easy meal that is high in fiber, protein, and very tasty.