Tag: lentils

Black Beluga Lentil Soup, Black Garlic, Black Vinegar

Black Beluga Lentil Soup, Black Garlic, Black Vinegar

Black Beluga Lentil Soup
🥣 🐳 🥣
Black Garlic, Black Vinegar

Black beluga lentils, aged black garlic, and Chinese black vinegar create a deeply savory soup with an intriguingly dark hue. Served with blackened rustic bread and a glass of Keenan Merlot, it makes for a dramatic and satisfying meal.

The ingredients work in harmony both visually and on the palate. Black beluga lentils provide an earthy foundation, while aged black garlic contributes mellow sweetness and deep umami notes. Dark soy sauce enhances the soup’s savory character and helps achieve its dramatic color, while Chinese black vinegar adds subtle complexity and a gentle lift.

Black Beluga Lentil Soup, Black Garlic, Black Vinegar

Although delicious with the lentils left whole, the soup truly comes into its own when puréed until velvety smooth. The transformation creates a luxurious texture and deepens the color, allowing the flavors to meld into a cohesive whole. Finished with freshly ground black pepper, the soup gains a touch of warmth and spice that balances its savory depth.

Black Beluga Lentil Soup Recipe

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Braised Lamb Shank, Pomegranate Fig Sauce, Saffron Basmati

Braised Lamb Shank, Pomegranate Fig Sauce, Saffron Basmati

Braised Lamb Shank, Pomegranate Fig Sauce
Spiced Saffron Basmati with Lentils and Golden Raisins

This quick lamb shank dinner joins my Lamb Shanks with Smoky Cassoulet Beans, Kalamata Olives, and Cherry Tomatoes, and another for Lamb Shanks over Boursin Cheese Polenta. The lamb shanks are slow braised in a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce with pomegranate juice and figs. The meat is incredibly tender and flavorful. It comes 2 shanks to a package and can be found in the refrigerated section at Costco under the “A La Carte” brand.

The dish Braised Lamb Shank with Pomegranate Fig Sauce and Spiced Saffron Basmati is not a traditional recipe from one specific culture, but is strongly inspired by Persian and broader Middle Eastern flavors.

Sumac — a deep red, lemony spice commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine adds another layer of intrigue. The lamb is very savory and rich, the rice is fragrant and slightly sweet, together they welcome a dusting of sumac to balance and enliven the dish.

Braised Lamb Shank, Pomegranate Fig Sauce, Saffron Basmati

Lamb Shank Dinner

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Dayboat Scallops, Broccoli Cream, Curried Lentils

Dayboat Scallops, Broccoli Cream, Curried Lentils

Dayboat Scallops, Broccoli Cream, Curried Lentils

This dish is a lovely yet unexpected combination of ingredients and with its green and red colors, it would make a delightful holiday seafood course. All the components have an affinity for each other. Pristine seared sea scallops sit atop earthy curried lentils with toasty walnuts, over a velvety broccoli cream.

The broccoli cream sauce is a rich blend made from puréed broccoli and cream, creating a smooth and luscious texture. The flavor is savory and slightly sweet, with the essence of fresh broccoli shining through. Garlic, onion, celery, and a touch of lemon juice enhance its depth, making it perfect for pairing with the scallops and lentils.

The rich and buttery characteristics of many California Chardonnays complement the sweetness and delicate texture of scallops. The wine’s acidity also helps cut through the richness of the creamy broccoli sauce. We like Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay paired here for its complex aromas, intense fruit flavors, and lively acidity.

Dayboat Scallops, Broccoli Cream, Curried LentilsDayboat Scallops with Broccoli Cream Recipe

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Albacore Tataki, Beluga Lentils, Lemon Soy Emulsion

Albacore Tataki, Beluga Lentils, Lemon Soy Emulsion

Albacore Tataki with Beluga Lentils
Lemon Soy Emulsion, Chili Oil
Sesame Seeds, Basil, Cilantro

An exquisite culinary experience, often reserved for high-end Michelin-starred restaurants, combines raw bluefin tuna with Beluga caviar. Here, in this “tuna & caviar” alternative, the more sustainable and economical albacore takes center stage.

Beautiful wild Alaskan albacore is marinated in a delectable sweet-soy-ginger-garlic mixture then briefly seared and caramelized in a hot pan. This tantalizing dish is playfully paired with Beluga lentils, known for their small, glossy black appearance that resembles the famed caviar.

Beluga lentils offer their own distinct charm. They may not replicate the luxury of caviar, but they bring a delightful earthy character all their own to the delicious tuna, without the extravagant price tag!

Albacore Tataki Recipe

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Beet, Lentil, Strawberry Salad

Beet, Lentil, Strawberry Salad

Happy Valentine’s Day
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Beet, Lentil, Strawberry Salad
With Yogurt, Hazelnuts, and Radicchio

The inspiration for this Valentine’s Day salad came from our lunch at Hell’s Kitchen Las Vegas where we thoroughly enjoyed a salad course of roasted golden beets over Greek yogurt with kumquats (fruit), pistachios (nuts), and a white balsamic vinaigrette.

Here, red beets are also served over Greek yogurt with beluga lentils, freeze dried strawberries (fruit), toasted hazelnuts (nuts), radicchio and Gordon Ramsay’s beet dressing.

The vibrant red salad is perfect for Valentine’s (or any other day for that matter) with sweet, savory, earthy, bitter, nutty, and creamy notes. It’s a symphony of color, flavor, texture, and crunch.

Beet, Lentil, Strawberry Salad

❤️ Valentine’s Day Salad ❤️

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