Green Lentils and Bulgar Wheat with Caramelized Onions

STORY

For my second anniversary with Sean (Yes, it has been two years!), I made a delicious and involved Epicurious recipe: Chicken with Olives, Caramelized Onions, and Sage. If I felt this recipe was a good one for a single chef, I would repost it, but folks this dish took about 3 hours from start to finish to prepare. Not exactly perfect for the single cook.

But I thought the Green Lentils and Bulgar Wheat with Caramelized Onions was a great recipe to share. I’ve used these lentils as a side dish for chicken. I’ve used them over salad. I’ve used them for a side dish with Baked Salmon with Lemon & Turmeric and I’ve even turned them into a patty that I served with a poached egg, canadian bacon and an English muffin (will post this recipe soon).

If you get as bored with rice as I do, this dish is a perfect one to add to your side dish arsenal.

RECIPE

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: ~ 30 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes

TOOLS

• 1 chef knife
• 1 large sauce pan with lid
• 1 saute pan
• 1 wooden spoon

INGREDIENTS

3 – 4 cups water
1/2 cup green lentils
1 bay leaf
1 cup bulgur wheat (cracked wheat)
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground black cardamom
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 tbsp dried cranberries
1/4 cup caramelized onions
1 tsp of fresh mint, chopped

METHOD

1. Add 3 cups of water, 1/2 cup green lentils and 1 bay leaf to a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. As soon as ingredients are boiling, lower to low heat to allow lentils to simmer, and partially cover with lid.
3. Once lentils are almost tender, about 15 minutes, add in in 1 cup bulgur, 3/4 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/8 tsp ground black cardamom.
4. Cover; simmer until water is absorbed, about 10 minutes longer.
5. Taste and, if bulgur wheat is moist*, add black pepper, 1/4 cup of slivered almonds, and 2 tbsp of dried cranberry.
6. *If bulgur wheat isn’t moist, add an additional 1/2 cup of water and cook until absorbed, and follow step # .
7. Discard bay leaf and add in caramelized onions.
8. Garnish with mint.

Tip:This dish makes about 4 servings, but don’t worry, you’ll find exciting ways to use it all up quickly.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sean