Pasta with Lentils, Kale and Caramelized Onions
This recipe has just five ingredients and it's incredibly delicious. Once you've made it a few times, you won't need a recipe! It'll be in your back pocket for when you need it.
Ingredients
- 1 lb whole grain pasta
- 1 bunch curly kale
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups brown lentils, rinsed and drained
- 3-4 cups vegetable broth
- 1-2 large onions, chopped
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the onions with the pepper and a bit of salt, to a medium hot pan. You can use olive oil here, but it's not necessary. A dash of water will do if the onions stick. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until onions are soft and golden, 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and increase heat to medium then cook, stirring until onion is golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes more.
- Simmer lentils in broth, covered, adding more broth if necessary for 20 to 25 minutes. They should be tender but not falling apart. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Meanwhile, boil a big pot of water. Cut out and discard the stems and center ribs from the kale. Chop the kale coarsely and add it to the boiling water until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain into colander *reserving* the water.
- Combine lentils, kale and onions.
- Return the water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta-cooking water.Add pasta to lentil mixture and toss, adding in reserved water if necessary to moisten. Add salt and more pepper to taste.
Notes
If you are transitioning to a plant-based diet (and you don't have heart disease), you may want to cook the onions in a tablespoon of oil. It will add richness to the dish for sure, but it's not strictly necessary.
None of the ingredient quantities need to be exact. The caramelized onions are key, though, so don't skimp on those!
Thanks for sharing recipes! Natasha got your bean soup recipe from a YW activity and makes it regularly as a soup or dip for chips. So tasty
Oh that’s good to hear! Thanks, Marlene.