This sauce is inspired by the Sicilian dish caponata, but with the salty and sour elements stirred in at the end. When cooking lentils, don't add acidity and salt too early as it can prevent them from becoming tender – good to remember if you’re substituting them for meat or veg in your favourite recipes
Sarah, a former food editor, has now been writing and styling recipes for over 10 years. Born in NZ, to Irish-English immigrants, and married to a Polish-Scot, her food is as diverse as her family, with a particular passion for baking mash-ups.
See more of Sarah Cook’s recipes
Sarah Cook
Sarah, a former food editor, has now been writing and styling recipes for over 10 years. Born in NZ, to Irish-English immigrants, and married to a Polish-Scot, her food is as diverse as her family, with a particular passion for baking mash-ups.
See more of Sarah Cook’s recipes
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Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 celery sticks, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
400g large vine tomatoes, diced
100g sundried tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped
25g tomato purée
1 tsp caster or granulated sugar
125g dried Puy lentils, washed and drained
300g wholewheat or other spaghetti
50g sultanas
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
150g pitted Kalamata or Queen olives, drained
3 tbsp small capers, rinsed
To serve
handful basil leaves, large ones torn
Parmesan (optional) - use vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese, or vegan cheese if required for vegan or dairy-free
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Get ahead
Make and store the sauce in the fridge for up to 2 days, or cook a large batch, portion up and freeze
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or wide casserole, add the onion and celery and start cooking over a low heat. Cover with a lid, and apart from the occasional stir, leave for 15 minutes until the veg are really soft. Stir in the garlic and fry uncovered for a couple of minutes.
Stir in the fresh and sundried tomatoes, plus the tomato purée, the sugar, lentils and 900ml of water. Simmer fiercely, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes until the lentils are just about tender and the sauce has thickened into a ragu-like sauce. If the lentils are still al dente, add another 100ml water and cook for a further 5 minutes. Cook the pasta following pack instructions.
Add the sultanas and vinegar to the sauce and cook for 5 minutes more. To finish the sauce, chop 50g of the olives and stir through the sauce with half the capers, then season with lots of black pepper and some salt.
To serve, drain the pasta then toss with the lentil sauce. Use tongs to divide the pasta between bowls, spooning leftover sauce over the top. Finally toss together the whole olives, remaining capers and basil and scatter over to finish. Eat with a good grating of Parmesan.
Tip
Any long- stranded pasta works well with this sauce, such as linguine or tagliatelle.
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BOIL: Using a large pot, boil 1 gallon water for every 1 lb dry pasta.Cook pasta 10-14 minutes (to desired tenderness). Turn down heat to reduce foaming and stir frequently, strain immediately, rinse, sauce and serve or hold hot at 145-165°F.
There's no need to cook lentils before adding them to a curry that will be cooked for at least half an hour that has enough liquid for the lentils to absorb. This will also give the lentils more flavor than cooking in water separately.
Adding a splash of something acidic such as vinegar, lemon juice or even wine to an over-salted dish can help to correct your meal and give it an extra tasty tang. Begin by adding a tablespoon at a time, stir well and taste.
For example, lentil pasta is an excellent alternative to regular pasta because it's high in fiber and protein. Lentils are loaded with folate, iron, phosphorus and potassium. Lentil pasta is rich in fiber. Fiber intake helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes. For split red lentils, cook time is typically only about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to season with salt after cooking – if salt is added before, the lentils will become tough.
Rinsing lentils will allow you to get rid of any accumulated dust, dirt, small rocks, twigs and possibly bugs that have come along for the ride: you don't want any of that in your food! None of this will hurt you however.
Fact 1: Soaking lentils improves digestion and nutrition absorption as it can neutralise lectins and phytates present that may cause gas and bloating. Fact 2: Soaking lentils also reduces its cooking time. It also brings prana (life) into the legume.
It won't reduce the sodium level of your dish, but adding an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or even a tomato product, can neutralize the saltiness of a dish. Start with a dash or a squeeze, stir well to combine, and give it a taste before adding any more.
How To Salt Water For Pasta. It is possible to add too much salt to your pasta water, and we generally follow this water salt ratio for pasta: add 1 tablespoon kosher or sea salt to 4 quarts of water for every 1 pound of pasta. When boiling or blanching vegetables (like broccoli), add 1½ teaspoons per quart of water.
The researchers said these simple cooking tips can help reduce how much of those potentially toxic compounds end up on your pasta: Take the lid off your pot when you're boiling pasta. Strain the noodles from the water they're cooked in. If you use iodized salt, add it after the pasta is cooked.
Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes. For split red lentils, cook time is typically only about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to season with salt after cooking – if salt is added before, the lentils will become tough.
Lentils aren't rice—they don't need to absorb every last drop of cooking liquid. They're more like pasta: best cooked in an abundance of water or stock. Bring your liquid up to a boil, add your lentils, then turn down your heat to a simmer for at least 25-30 minutes.
And because most lentil varieties don't require soaking, you can make pasta e lenticchie for a wholesome weeknight dinner in less than three-quarters of an hour.
Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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