Stewed lentils in a slow cooker, a nutritious, tasty, and very easy dish to prepare thanks to the slow cooking which allows for soft and well-flavored lentils.
Just put the ingredients in the slow cooker, set the cooking time, and let it work: at the end, you will have a warm, cozy dish ready to enjoy.
Lentils are a versatile ingredient rich in beneficial properties: they are an excellent source of plant-based proteins, fiber, and minerals, perfect for a healthy and balanced diet. Additionally, they are gluten-free, making them suitable for those with specific dietary needs. In this recipe, we cook them with a classic sauté and a touch of tomato paste, which gives a more intense and rich flavor to the dish. The result is a simple yet irresistible comfort food, perfect to accompany with crunchy bread, serve as a side dish, use as a pasta sauce, or as part of a soup.
If you love easy recipes with genuine flavors, this is the right idea for you! The slow cooker allows you to prepare lentils in advance and find them ready at mealtime, a great advantage for those with little time to dedicate to cooking but who do not want to give up homemade dishes. Try them and see how convenient it is to bring such a tasty dish to the table with minimal effort!
At the end of the recipe, in the FAQ section, I have answered some questions regarding this preparation. If you have other doubts or curiosities, write a comment or use the contact form at the end of the page.
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 169.92 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 22.67 (g) of which sugars 3.90 (g)
- Proteins 9.05 (g)
- Fat 4.20 (g) of which saturated 0.64 (g)of which unsaturated 0.26 (g)
- Fibers 6.33 (g)
- Sodium 391.64 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 120 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Stewed Lentils in Slow Cooker
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 1 1/2 cups sauté mix
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
Tools
- Food Scale
- Slow cooker
- Ladles
Stewed Lentils in Slow Cooker Recipe
Start preparing the stewed lentils in a slow cooker by placing the extra virgin olive oil in the slow cooker.
Continue with the sauté mix of celery, carrot, and onion.
Rinse the lentils under running water and add them to the rest of the ingredients in the pot.
Continue by adding the tomato paste and the vegetable broth.
Stir with a wooden spoon to mix all the ingredients together.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook the lentils on HIGH for 4-5 hours or LOW for 8-9 hours. Do not lift the lid during the first two hours of cooking.
When the lentils are cooked, taste them and adjust salt if necessary. If you like, add some black pepper.
Serve the stewed lentils in slow cooker and dress them with a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil and, if desired, some chopped chives or parsley.
Stewed Lentils in Slow Cooker
Consult this section to clarify your doubts; if you cannot find the answer to your question, comment or write to me using the form below.
With the slow cooker, I also prepared Beef and Broccoli Stew in Slow Cooker
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Do I need to soak the lentils before cooking them in a slow cooker?
No, dried lentils do not need to be soaked prior to cooking in a slow cooker. However, rinsing them under running water helps to remove any impurities.
Can I use canned lentils instead of dried ones?
Yes, but reduce the cooking time to 1-2 hours on LOW or 30-40 minutes on HIGH. Also, use less broth since canned lentils are already hydrated.
Can I add other ingredients?
Certainly! You can enrich the dish with spices (turmeric, paprika, cumin), aromatic herbs (bay leaf, thyme, rosemary), or add potatoes, peeled tomatoes, or bacon for a more robust flavor.
Can I freeze stewed lentils?
Yes, cooked lentils can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator and reheat by adding a little broth if necessary.
You can find all the recipes prepared in the slow cooker in the Slow Cooker Recipes section.
For questions, curiosities, or if you want to collaborate with me, use the contact form below:
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