Persian-Style Lamb & Lentil Stew
A single portion of Persian cooking, ready in 36 minutes with 8 minutes of prep. Written for one, so there is nothing to halve and nothing to waste.
About 950 kcal and 38 g protein a serving (85 g carbs, 51 g fat). Worked out from the ingredients, so a guide only.
Roughly £2.10 a portion at typical UK supermarket prices.
Method
- 1
Cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
- 2
Fry the onion in a splash of oil with a pinch of salt over medium heat for 6 minutes until soft, then add the lamb mince and ½ tsp salt and fry for 5 minutes, breaking it up, until browned with no pink left. Add the garlic for the last minute.
- 3
Stir in the turmeric, cinnamon, rinsed lentils and chopped tomatoes, plus 200ml water.
- 4
Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often, until the lentils are soft.
- 5
Squeeze in the lemon, taste and season with salt and black pepper, then serve over the rice.
Cook's notes
- Sizes. Vegetables, fruit and eggs are medium unless the recipe says otherwise. A tin is a standard 400g tin.
- Dairy. Salted or unsalted butter both work; with salted, go easy on any extra salt. Use full-fat soured cream, crème fraîche and yoghurt in anything hot, as low-fat versions split.
- Stock. A cube or pot made up as the packet says. Cubes are salty, so taste before adding more salt.
- Heat. Medium means a gentle sizzle, not spitting. High means the oil shimmers before the food goes in. A simmer is a few lazy bubbles, not a rolling boil. Leave the lid off unless the recipe says to cover.
- Pans. A small saucepan is about 16cm and a frying pan about 24cm. Sauces reduce faster in a wider pan, so go by how it looks rather than the clock.
- Doneness. Chicken and turkey should reach 75°C in the thickest part, pork 65 to 70°C, and beef steak 55°C for medium-rare. Rest steaks and chops for a few minutes before slicing.
- Finishing. Taste before serving. Most dishes want a pinch more salt, and a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar lifts anything rich.
- Leftovers. Cool quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, then reheat until piping hot. Cooked rice keeps for 1 day and should only be reheated once.
solosupper.co.uk/recipes/persian-style-lamb-and-lentil-stew/
