In Italy it is traditional to eat lentils on new year's day as they bring good fortune for the year ahead. The lentils signify coins. I live in Australia and am married to a man from an Italian background. This dish is an appropriate start to the year for any tragic Italophile!
New Year Lentils
The Story
Start the new year well.
New Year Lentils
vegetarian lentil dish
Ingredients
- 2 cup lentils
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 medium onion
- 4-5 small cherry tomatoes
- 6 tbs olive oil
- water
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Dice the onion, carrot and celery.
- Pour the olive oil into a medium-sized pot and slowly saute the vegetables.
- Add the lentils and the bay leaf and mix to coat them in the oil and then cover with water about 2cm above the lentils.
- Add the cherry tomatoes whole and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Slowly simmer until the lentils are soft. Check regularly to make sure there is enough water and add more if you need it. The consistency should be of a thick soup.
- Add salt to taste and serve with crusty bread and a generous drizzle of your best olive oil over the top. Buon anno!!
