There is no New Year's Eve dinner without stewed lentils in Italy. A good luck charm par excellence, particularly for money and prosperity in view of the New Year, stewed lentils are the ideal accompaniment for sausage or cotechino – another inevitable New Years’ ingredient. To make this dish, just follow our traditional recipe below. And make sure to read our tips on making it, so you can enjoy it to the fullest – like a true Italian!
Lentils and health
Known for their high nutritional value, lentils are an excellent source of protein, complex carbohydrates, iron, phosphorus and B vitamins. Moreover, this legume has few fats and a high percentage of fiber (making it helpful for constipation). The antioxidant properties also help with memory and concentration. And if that’s not enough, lentils are gluten-free, so they’re great for all kinds of recipes – from classic soups and vegan burgers to mullet with shrimp and lentil broth.
The traditional recipe
For the classic stewed lentils recipe, you must first soak the lentils (12 oz) for at least eight hours in water. Alternatively, you can easily buy pre-cooked lentils at the supermarket. After rinsing them well, add the lentils to a saucepan, in which you’ve already sautéed at least four tablespoons of olive oil, 1 chopped onion, 1 rib of celery and a chopped carrot. Then add 7 oz of tomato paste and let the ingredients cook slowly over high heat with a bay leaf and 2 ladlefuls of broth. Continue cooking for a little more than half an hour. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste. Add a drizzle of olive oil and serve hot, according to tradition.
Other pairings
In addition to cotechino, stewed lentils are also an excellent side dish for other main courses, since they go well with meat in general. On New Year's Eve and beyond. Stewed lentils also go well with other vegetables such as potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms and pumpkin. And then if you love intense flavors, you’ll love this recipe with the addition of fresh herbs or powders like curry, turmeric, paprika, chili pepper, rosemary and sage.
