As a vegetarian, I mistakenly thought that the crockpot's use for me was limited to yogurt and fruit butter making. Oh, how wrong I have been!
Wednesday morning I used the crockpot to make the lentil stew recipe I've been making for years on the stove. I felt smug all day knowing that dinner was already made, and after simmering away for eight hours, the stew had that delicious second-day-flavor-melding goodness that makes soupy leftovers so wonderful.
Why the Cholula? It's my topping of choice for this recipe. I might just make the stew as an excuse to go crazy with the hot sauce.
Want to make some Cholula Vehicle Lentil Stew? Here's the recipe, from Woman's Day's February 16, 1999 issue:
1.5 cups dried lentils
3 cups water (I sub veggie broth when I have it in the house)
3 cups (ish) of 1" cubed butternut squash (I use frozen when I'm feeling lazy)
2 cups marinara sauce (your own if you have it on hand, or jarred if you don't mind it)
8 oz. green beans trimmed and cut in half
1 medium red bell pepper cut in 1" chunks
1 large potato cut in 1" chunks
3/4 cup onion, chopped (I mince half an onion and don't measure)
1 tsp garlic, minced (I don't measure; I just add a few minced cloves)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1. Mix lentils and water in crockpot. In a large bowl, mix remaining ingredients except olive oil, and place on lentils.
2. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until veggies and lentils are tender. Stir in the oil.
My addition: slather with Cholula.
I debated posting the recipe and finally eased my mind by researching copyright protection for recipes.
If it is snowy where you are, try this out. It really sticks to your ribs! I'd love to hear what you think if you make it!
If I had everything on hand this would be tossed in the crock pot right now! But I’m missing a few of the key ingredients (marinara, green beans & the cholula). I’m putting it on the list for DH on his way home tonight though as it looks to be an ugly weekend around these parts and this would be wonderful with some fresh baked, crusty bread I bet!
uhm, how/what meat does one cook in a crock pot? why?
i’ve always (almost only) made cholent in mine (sorta like lentil stew, not sure if the link will go through, just pot chulent into wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholent . tastes wonderful on weekends like this). yes there are meat versions, but mine has always been vege. it’s made so often that it’s a cholent pot not a crock pot! 😉
your stew sounds sounds yummy!
Kristi, it is great with bread. If I’ve planned ahead, I sometimes make no-knead bread to go with. Delicious!
Penny, I grew up with my mom cooking roasts, brats & sauerkraut, and all sorts of other meats in the crockpot. I don’t know anything else about it as I’ve rarely cooked meat any way! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
This sounds delicious and I bet Hannah would love it – minus the hot sauce since that daughter of mine thinks ketchup is spicy! I’ve already planned and shopped for our meals next week, her last week home (sob) but I will put this on the list for her first weekend visit.
NOM NOM – I’m going to try making it this week!