Southwestern Lentils

Total time: 40 minutes
     I had something similar to this in a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas.  I don't remember the name, and I never got the recipe.  This is as close as I get to a return trip.  Make them as hot as you like.  I use the tiny, green lentils de Puy, but you can use the larger brown ones.  Do not use the red ones, they get too mushy..

 Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup dried lentil, 120gr, 4.2oz, small green 'du Puy'
• 1 1/2 cups water and beef stock mixed - or whatever the package tells you, 338gr, 12oz 1 small onion, 120gr, 4.2oz
• 1/4 green pepper, 40gr, 1.4oz
• 1/4 red pepper, 40gr, 1.4oz
• 1 medium tomato, 200gr, 7oz
• 2 cloves garlic, 8gr, .28oz
• 1/3 cup chopped green chilies, 127gr, 4.5oz- if you want something hotter, please do so. These are as hot as I like.
• 2 tsp chili powder, 5gr, .17oz
• 1 tbs olive oil, 13.5gr, 4.8oz

 Instructions:

• Cook the lentils in water and stock according to package directions until done.  When done, turn off and let sit.
• Finely chop onion, peppers, garlic, tomato and chilies.
• Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat.  When hot add chili powder and sauté for 1 minute, stirring constantly - this releases more flavors.
• Add onion and garlic and sauté a few minutes, then add peppers, sauté another few minutes, then add tomatoes.
• Turn heat down to low and sauté until all vegetables are very tender, stirring occasionally - about 15 minutes.
• When lentils are done, drain any excess liquid and add to pan with vegetables along with the drained (lightly) chilies and stir to combine.
• Taste.  This is where I stop but you may add more chili powder, chilies or hot sauce to taste.
• Cover and let simmer over low heat for 5 minutes to let flavors meld.  Serve.

Note:  This serves 4.

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Nutrition Information               Recipe serves 4             Entire Recipe / per serving Calories:   693 / 173 Total Carbohydrates:  98 / 24.5           Dietary Fiber:   28 / 7 Total Fat:   17 / 4.25          Saturated Fat:  2 / .5 Cholesterol:   0 / 0 Protein:   38 / 9.5 Calcium:  145 / 36.25 Sodium:    1624 / 406

General Technical Details and Disclaimer:

Measurements are actual measurements used for calculation. If there are no values the nutritional numbers were simply too small.

I try to be accurate, but I do not guarantee it.  I use 'grams' as the unit of weight; with an approximate conversion to ounces.

My information comes from my own digital, computerized scale and the USDA Nutrient Data Library: http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/