Rustic Winter Stew Over Polenta
Ingredients
For the stew:
- Olive oil (from 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons, depending how much you feel like using)
- 1 small onion diced medium
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- Several dashes fresh black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup green lentils
- 1 1/2 cups baby carrots
- 2 lbs plum tomatoes chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 lb small yukon gold potatoes sliced in half (if using large ones, cut into about 1 inch pieces)
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 leeks white & light green parts only in 1 inch chunks (and washed well)
- Fresh rosemary or thyme to serve (realistically, only if you’re taking food photos)
For the polenta:
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup dry polenta
Instructions
To make the stew:
- Preheat a 4 quart pot over medium heat. Saute the onion in olive oil, along with a dash of salt, for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, celery seed, pepper and salt and saute a minute more.
- Add the lentils, baby carrots, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally for about 20 minutes, until lentils are slightly softened (now is a good time to start the polenta.)
- Add potatoes and leeks. Lower heat to simmer. Cover and cook for about 20 to 30 more minutes, until potatoes are fork tender and lentils are soft. Let sit for 10 minutes or so to allow the flavors to meld. Serve over polenta, garnished with fresh herbs, if you like.
To make the polenta:
- Bring vegetable broth and salt to a boil in a 2 quart pot. Add oil. Lower heat to simmer. Add the polenta in a slow steady stream, stirring constantly with a whisk. Whisk for about 5 minutes, until polenta is thickened. Keeping heat low, cover and let cook for 20 more minutes or so, stirring occasionally.
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