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Roasted Carrot & Red Lentil Ragout

Name: Roasted Carrot & Red Lentil Ragout
Prep time: 30

(12 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

30 min prep

4 servings

Carrot Icon for Number of Ingredients Size

14 ingredients

This tasty vegan Roasted Carrot & Red Lentil Ragout is a great solution the many inquiries I get about how to use more turmeric in cooking. Turmeric has antioxidant, cancer-fighting properties, but when...

1½ pounds carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup red lentils, picked through and washed
5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
½ teaspoon turmeric
2 cloves garlic, whole and peeled, plus 1 clove, sliced
1¼ inch strip of lemon peel
1 bay leaf
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise
½ teaspoon whole cumin seeds
½ teaspoon ancho chili powder, or to taste
½ teaspoon canned chipotle chili in adobo, seeds and veins removed and minced, or to taste
⅛teaspoon cayenne
Sea salt and pepper

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Nutrition Facts

Calories

460 cals

Fat

15 g

Saturated Fat

3 g

Polyunsaturated Fat

2 g

Monounsaturated Fat

9 g

Carbohydrates

63 g

Sugar

16 g

Fiber

11 g

Protein

22 g

Sodium

1325 mg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Toss the carrots in ½ tablespoon of the olive oil and lay out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and a few grinds of black pepper and roast for 15-20 minutes, depending on their size. Turn and roast for another 10-15 minutes or until the carrots are soft and caramelized. When cool enough, cut into a ¼-inch dice.
While the carrots are cooking, put the lentils in a large pot with the turmeric, whole garlic cloves, lemon peel and bay leaf. Cover with the stock. Bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are very soft but are keeping their shape, and the liquid has thickened, about 20-25 minutes. Remove the lemon peel and bay leaf and set aside.
While both the carrots and lentils are cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. When it starts to ripple, add the cumin seeds. Cook until they give off their aroma, then add the onions. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until the onions start to soften. Turn the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and have begun to caramelized, about 25 minutes. They should look almost like a jam. Set aside. By now, the onions, carrots, and lentils should be ready. It’s time to assemble them.
Heat the remaining oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When it starts to ripple, add the sliced garlic. When it starts to brown, add the carrots and heat through, stirring. Add ancho chili powder, chipotle, and cayenne, and cook for about 2 minutes, taking care not to let them burn. Add the onions, mix well and add the contents of the pan to the lentils. Stir to mix well. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring, for another 5 minutes. Adjust for salt. Take off the heat, cover and let it sit for a few minutes. Serve as a soup or with brown rice.

Chef Tips

The red lentils we’re using are actually a rosy brown. If you can’t find them, use the more commonly sold green lentils. They cook faster than red, so if you use them keep an eye on them as they cook. Although we want the lentils soft, they need to keep their shape.

For a smokier flavor, you can add a whole unbroken dried chipotle to the lentils in step 3 along with the other aromatics. Just make sure to fish it out before assembling the dish in step 5.

Registered Dietitian Approved

Our recipes, articles, videos, and more content are reviewed by our Registered Dietitian Kate Ueland, MS, RD, CSO, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition, to ensure that each is backed with scientific evidence and follows the guidelines set by the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., published by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, a professional interest group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society.