Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Tasty Tuesdays #3 - Lentil & Bean Casserole

This recipe is one of my ole standbys - perfectly balanced, suitable for cooking in batches, freezer-friendly and fantastic as leftovers. Sometimes I think I should call this my Shorty Casserole because it's good when you're short on time, short on energy or short on money!


Ingredients Round-up: onion, celery, carrots, fresh oregano, diced tomatoes, lentils and kidney beans (I used canned out of sheer laziness - feel free to substitute for the real thing!).


Begin by cleaning and dicing all of your ingredients. Now is a good time to rinse your beans and lentils.


Grab a large saute pan and heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium. Add your mirepoix and cook until the ingredients have softened. Do not let them brown! This should take a good 5-10 minutes. I've been known to add a healthy splash of white wine at this stage, but seeing as I'm trying to be "good" this week, I skipped it. ;)


Next, add your diced tomatoes and oregano. Bring this to a boil then let it simmer with the lid on for 5-10 minutes.


You're ready to add your lentils and beans.


Mixy, mixy....looking good!


If you are eating this immediately, you can dump this concoction into a casserole dish, top it with shredded skim mozzarella and broil for a few minutes in the oven. I've chosen to take these little beauties to work for lunch, so I'll just melt the cheese when I re-heat.

Enjoy!
Rae
xo

16 comments:

  1. Wow. Those food pics are beautiful! :D Really, it looks like art.

    Congratulations on the great challenge week! Yes, I'm talking to you. :D

    Running and veggies count for a lot. And you're drinking water now. Progress, not perfection, leeds to freedom.

    Deb

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  2. I'm going to try it! Thanks.

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  3. Looks great!! My kinda dish!!! Hugs!

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  4. Looks yummy!! Def gonna have to try it!!

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  5. That dish looks soooo delicious! Oh, I wish my family would eat lentils. I may have to make this anyway and portion it out.

    Have you ever frozen leftovers? If so, how did the dish reheat?

    Great source of protein, carbs, veggies... and probably makes the house smell good! :) Yeah, I need to try this.

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  6. looks good...thanks for sharing!

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  7. nom nom nom!!! I do something similar with lentils, chickpeas, onions, garlic, and madras curry -- i keep it in the freezer for those nights when i just dont' want to cook.

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  8. @Deb: Thanks for your compliments on my photos! I'm just learning a new camera, so they should get even better with time. ;)

    @Heather: I promise your family won't even taste the lentils. I've even passed them off as "pasta" to my 4 year old niece. I have frozen the leftovers and used them within 2 months without issue. Enjoy!

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  9. Looks delish! You might like this recipe~
    Takes 5 minutes to make.
    in a pot add 16 oz jar of salsa - what ever kind you want. fill half the jar up with water , dump that in.Add chicken, I love to add some chicken from a rotiserie chicken I buy already cooked rom the grocery store.add as much as you want. Add a can of rinsed black beans.
    Now, add an envelope of white chicken chili . I think it's mccormick, but I will check and let you know. cook til warm. put it in a bowl,I like to add a dollop of sour cream on top. serve and enjoy. you can add shredded cheese or little tortilla chips on top. I don't because I like it the way it is... and don't want to add even more calories.
    it's delish!
    Kristin

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  10. Oh, that looks so good! I love all the veggies!

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  11. Hey! Thanks for commenting on my page! Comments are so encouraging. =) I love love your Tasty Tuesday recipes and photos. I had some photos on my page as well, but no step by step recipes. I think I'll try that on Sundays. It's really great sharing recipes and getting new ideas.

    I'm the same way, I tend to get distracted with busy days at work then super binge at night. Well, I've quit that bad habit cold turkey and I'm really just trying to concentrate on making a weekly menu the Sunday before so that cheating wont even be an option during the week. Wish me luck and come back for a visit!

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  12. p.s. it seems like you're definitely having successful days. Yay for the -3lb loss and cooking healthy!

    Kat

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  13. That looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing :)

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  14. All of that looks awesome...except for the bean part. :) I don't know what my problem is, but I just can't stand 'em! :(

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  15. Wow, looks very tasty! I will have to try it sometime :-)

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  16. Oh that looks great! And easy to make, that's always handy, hehe :) Thanks for the recipe!

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