This quick & easy one pot red lentil stew with olives packs a lot of punch with juicy olives, salty capers, feta, fiery chilli and a generous portion of lentils. Makes a tasty & healthy weeknight supper.
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I'm hoping that you like big flavours as that's exactly what you'll get from my red lentil stew with olives. It is one big bowlful of punchy, delicious, veggie delight. There are so many bold ingredients in this pot.
Keen to make my daughters' diets as rich and varied as possible, last autumn I made a healthy chicken curry that contained a small proportion of lentils in it and kept quiet as I served it up... lentils had not been a popular serve to this point. After a few mouthfuls, they gave their verdict...
Big hit - they loved it.
Even after I confessed about those teeny-tiny, oh so innocent, little lentils.
From that point on they have grown to love lentils entirely. We've all eaten the 'test' curry and a pile of other lentil recipes so much over the winter.
This is great news as lentils are so utterly good for you. They are:
- very high in protein
- low in fat
- low in sodium
- easy to digest
- high in cholesterol-lowering fibre
As if all of those bonuses weren't enough, there's more:
- lentils are incredibly cheap
- they come in a rainbow of colours
Anyway, leaving the virtues of lentils aside, um, back to the red lentil stew.
Having completely overcome household lentil phobia (hooray), I decided to create this flavour-bomb of a supper. It is quick & simple to make - you just keep adding ingredients to the same pan. What you get at the end is very little washing up (bonus) and a large bowlful of so many wonderful veggies and satisfying flavours to enjoy. There are: juicy olives, salty capers & feta, fiery chilli flakes and a generous portion of lentils. It is a commotion in your mouth.
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Lentil & Olive Stew
Ingredients
- 3 shallots
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ large red peppers
- 1 ½ large yellow pepper
- 600 g/ 2 ⅔ cups tinned tomatoes (chopped)
- 375 g/ 13oz new potatoes (peeled)
- 120 g/ ⅔ cup green lentils (look for ones that cook in 20ish minutes)
- 65 g/ ⅓ cup red lentils
- 375 ml/ 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
- 175 g/ 6oz mixed pitted olives (drained)
- 1 ½ teaspoon sundried tomato paste
- 1 ½ tablespoon capers in brine (drained)
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon chilli flakes (to taste)
- 2 medium handfuls spinach leaves (about 100g/ 3 cups)
To Serve:
- 100 g/ 4oz feta cheese - crumbled
- Extra olives
- Extra chilli flakes
Instructions
- Finely dice the shallots and garlic cloves, then fry them in the olive oil in a large saucepan over a low - medium heat for 3-4 minutes, until they begin to soften
- De-seed the peppers and chop into 1 cm chunks, then add to the pan and continue to fry for 2 more minutes
- Peel and cube the potatoes, then add to the pan along with the tomatoes, green lentils and stock. Season with pepper only (see notes). Turn up the heat and bring to gentle simmer. After 5 minutes, stir in the red lentils. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes and lentils are all cooked through
- Meanwhile, quarter the olives and slice the spinach leaves
- When the potatoes and lentils are cooked, add the olives, capers, sundried tomato paste and chilli flakes. Stir and heat through for a minute
- Finally add the spinach to the pan, and stir in until it just wilts
- Serve in bowls and top with the feta, extra olives and chilli flakes if desired
Jane Coupland says
This is a flavour-packed and filling meal. I hope you enjoy it.
Brian Jones says
This looks and sounds fantastic, definitely a dish I am going to have a go at, although I will omit to olives 😮
Jane Saunders says
Thanks Brian - let me know how you like it without the olives 🙂
Monique says
Still trying to follow your pretty blog..
Happy when we hook up..:)
Jane Saunders says
oh no, I'm so sorry you are still having trouble, Monique. I have a 'follow me' link on the end of this week's and last week's post - try that if you like.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
This looks like one hearty and comforting dish, just perfect for the cool weather here in Australia. I have to make it - as I seriously love lentils!
Jane Saunders says
It's nicely filling too. As you say, Thalia, perfect for cooler months.
Renee says
What a awesome recipe! Need to give it a try soon 🙂
Jane Saunders says
Thanks Renee - do enjoy...