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Lentils in Butter

A good partner to omelets, little spicy sausages, and fried or broiled eggplant.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups large green or brown lentils, washed
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt
2 tablespoons butter
Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large saucepan, fry the onion in the oil until soft and golden, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and stir until it just begins to color.

    Step 2

    Add the lentils, pour in about 2 1/2 cups water, and bring to the boil. Add pepper and cumin, and simmer gently, covered, for about 20–30 minutes, until the lentils are tender, adding salt when they begin to soften. Add more water as it becomes absorbed and let it reduce at the end.

    Step 3

    Serve with the butter stirred in until melted, and a squeeze of lemon if you like.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
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