Lentil Chili

I’m a sucker for well-prepared lentils (as is my sister) so when I came across a recipe for chili made with lentils rather than kidney beans I Had to try it (and have my sister over for dinner, of course).

It made for a perfect dinner on a cold night.  This recipe uses ancho chili powder for a very mild heat, with a super flavor.

Red bell peppers lend a sweetness, and opting for fire-roasted diced tomatoes added a different element of flavor to the profile.

Ingredients
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
4 teaspoons ancho chili powder
16-ounces brown lentils (about 2 1/4 cups)
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

• Bring 3/4 cup broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is clear and pepper is tender.
• Stir in chili powder and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
• Add lentils, tomatoes and remaining 7 1/4 cups broth.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes or until lentils are almost tender.
• Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer. Stir in cilantro and serve.

We opted for spinach salads as a first course.  Since the chili was so lean we had goat cheese on crackers and a little bit of crumbled bacon on top.

And, of course, a nicely crusted French sourdough bread to dip in the chili 😉
Yummy dinner + fantastic company = happy Kitchbitch!
J