In the heart of Croatian cuisine lies a comforting and flavorful dish known as lentil stew, a hearty and nourishing culinary creation that has been passed down through generations. This tantalizing stew, also known as lešo, is a symphony of lentils, vegetables, and meat that embodies the essence of Croatian home cooking. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or a home cook seeking culinary adventures, this comprehensive guide will take you on a journey to master the art of Croatian lentil stew and introduce you to a collection of delectable recipes that showcase its diverse variations. From the classic lešo to the vegetarian delight of grah, discover the secrets of preparing this timeless dish that has captivated taste buds for centuries. Embark on this culinary adventure and let the aromas of Croatian lentil stew fill your kitchen with warmth and delight.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SAUSAGE AND LENTILS WITH FENNEL
One-pan lentil stew with sausage, fennel, and aromatics like onions, garlic, and carrots. Hearty in the best way possible, this sausage and lentils is finished with a splash of red wine vinegar and a silky drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil! Big thanks to one of our readers Darryl Patrick Lombard who graciously shared this easy recipe!
Provided by Suzy Karadsheh
Categories Dinner
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a saucepan, combine the lentils with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cover part-way to simmer for about 10 minutes (the lentils should be cooked just part-way through (there should be some liquid in the pan still).
- In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the sausage and cook over medium-high heat, tossing regularly and breaking the sausage up with a wooden spoon, until fully cooked and browned.
- Push the sausage to one side of the skillet and add the fennel, garlic, onion, carrots, and fennel seed. Add broth and red wine vinegar.
- Add the par-boiled lentils to the sausage and fennel skillet. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve, drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil on top. Serve immediately with your favorite crusty bread
Nutrition Facts : Calories 326.4 kcal, Carbohydrate 40.6 g, Protein 22.9 g, Fat 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Sodium 634.8 mg, Fiber 17.5 g, Sugar 3.6 g, UnsaturatedFat 0.5 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CROATIAN LENTIL STEW
Very healthy stew, especially if you have digestion troubles. Popular in Northern Croatia. Usually served with sausages, hamburgers, fried eggs or pork chops. Suitable as a single dish
Provided by nitko
Categories Stew
Time 1h45m
Yield 4 portions, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Soak lentil for 5 hours in cold water.
- Wash the lentil and put it in fresh cold water unit it boils. Cook it for 10 minutes, change the water, and cook for more 10 minutes or until you see lentil soft. Remove lentil and put it in cold water.
- Melt the pig-fat in the pot and add the onion. Sauté the onion until it is soft. Add garlic. Sauté it for 1-2 minutes and add flour. Sauté it until the flour is slightly brown and than add paprika. Add water gently and make a cream of all ingredients. Than add lentil and water to cover the lentil. Season with salt and pepper and add bacon skin.
- Cook for 30 minute on very gently fire, or less if the lentil get soft before. Add sour cream, mix it well and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 677.9, Fat 8.9, SaturatedFat 3.5, Cholesterol 10, Sodium 524.3, Carbohydrate 105.2, Fiber 52.7, Sugar 3.8, Protein 45
LENTIL STEW
This hearty stew is a favorite with our family, along with a basket of homemade breadsticks. Since lentils don't require the long soaking time that dried beans do, you can begin making this dish just an hour before supper-not the night before!-Carol Wolfer, Lebanon, Oregon
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring the lentils, water and bouillon to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. , Stir in the remaining ingredients. Return to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes longer or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 200 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 628mg sodium, Carbohydrate 26g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 11g fiber), Protein 17g protein.
CROATIAN SPINACH STEW ( SPINAT CUSPAJZ")
This recipe is at least 200 years old. My grand-grandmother was preparing spinach that way, my, grandmother was preparing that way, my mother was preparing that way, so I am preparing it that way. This is very healthy meal, although it is prepared on pork fat. One important fact: never re-heat the spinach - you will have digestion problems.
Provided by nitko
Categories Stew
Time 15m
Yield 4 portions, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Clean the spinach leaves and put them in boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Drain the leaves and using large knife (or multi-practic machine): cut them to mash.
- Take a pot, melt butter, add flour and garlic, and add cold water to make a kind of "sauce veloutè".
- Add mashed spinach pour milk (or cream) season with salt and pepper.
- Nutmeg is optional.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 258.8, Fat 21.5, SaturatedFat 13, Cholesterol 71.7, Sodium 232.4, Carbohydrate 12.8, Fiber 5.6, Sugar 1.1, Protein 8.8
CROATIAN "COBANAC" STEW
"Cobanac" is kind of goulash sheep and cow-boy's used to eat while watching their herds. You eat it with a spoon, so the pieces inside has to be bite-size. It is traditional meal from Slavonia (eastern part of Croatia)and people from there are very proud of it. They have annual "Cobanac festival" where there is competition in making cobanac. They cook cobanac in large bronze pots on tripod over open fire. Of course, everyone will tell you that their stew is the best one. This is how I do it. (I know someone here on Zaar would be against horse meat, but, if you really want to enjoy the taste, use horse meat.)
Provided by nitko
Categories Stew
Time 3h50m
Yield 6 portions, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cut horse and beef meat into small pieces (not larger than 2x2 cm). Do the same with potato.
- Finely mince onion.
- Soak dried porcini mushrooms in cold water about 15 minutes, and than cut into small pieces.
- Cut pancetta into small pieces.
- Heat the lard and sauté onion until translucent. Add meat and continue to sauté (covered) 20 minutes. At that point meat will start to leave juices.
- Add paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaf, pancetta and thyme. Stir well and continue to sauté 5 minutes; now add wine, stir and sauté until alcohol evaporates.
- Add potato and water to cover meat and potato. Add mushrooms. Stir and cook on easy fire about 120 minutes.
- If you need to add more salt do it, but do not add additional pepper or hot paprika. If you want it hot, do it at the beginning.
- The stew must be soup-like. You eat it only with spoon. All ingredients must be soft and easy to eat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 305.1, Fat 12.7, SaturatedFat 4.9, Cholesterol 38.9, Sodium 691.6, Carbohydrate 26.6, Fiber 4.5, Sugar 5.5, Protein 14.9
LENTIL STEW
My mother is from Seville, Spain and made this for us growing up. It is great in the winter and when you are sick.
Provided by Michele
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Stews
Time 50m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place the potatoes, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and sausage in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook 15 minutes.
- Stir lentils into the pot. Add more water if necessary to just cover all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 347 calories, Carbohydrate 44.7 g, Cholesterol 26.5 mg, Fat 11.4 g, Fiber 10.8 g, Protein 17 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 456.7 mg, Sugar 4.9 g
LENTILS WITH POLISH SAUSAGE... CROATIAN STYLE !
I was looking for a Lentil Soup Recipe and adopted this abandoned one, made a few adjustments added a photo, and here we are... If you like, you could use Smoked Ham Hocks instead of the Polish Sausages... I hope you all enjoy this fine Croatian version of Lentil Soup :-)
Provided by Winnie Peric
Categories Bean Soups
Time 2h
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Clean lentils well by soaking them briefly in cold water, changing the water at least once...
- 2. Put them in a 2-1/2-quart saucepan, add a chicken boullion cube and cold water to cover, and bring to a boil; lower heat to simmer and cook until not quite done, about 45 minutes...
- 3. Meanwhile, slice sausages once length wise and then cut slices from each half of the sausages...
- 4. In a medium skillet, brown the sausage slices, then add and saute the onion, carrot, garlic and parsley in the olive oil over medium heat until the onion is translucent and the vegetables are almost done...
- 5. To the lentil pot, add the sausage and vegetables, season with pepper, and mix gently using a wooden spoon...
- 6. In a small sauce pan you will make a roux... Warm enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan, and add some of the liquid from the lentils and a couple of tablespoons of flour...
- 7. Brown the roux lightly then transfer to Lentil Soup and bring to one last boil, this will help thicken the soup a bit... Adjust seasonings to your taste...
- 8. Serve with Croutons, garnish with some sliced Green Onions and if you like sprinkle some Parmesan Cheese on top... Enjoy :-)
LENTIL STEW
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, quick, soups and stews, main course
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook coarse-chopped slab bacon in olive oil until done; add chopped onion, carrot and celery, and cook for a few minutes. Add lentils and any stock to cover; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and slowly simmer until lentils are tender. Garnish: Parsley.
SLOW COOKER MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL STEW
This is an excellent slow cooker recipe... Mix ingredients and let cook. Delicious! Spiced with cumin and coriander and flavored with tomato paste, this veggie-filled lentil stew will keep you warm for winter, and all year round! Good with a loaf of fresh-baked rustic bread! Vegetarian and vegan. Serve with a piece of bread for dipping.
Provided by CookingForDummies
Categories Everyday Cooking Vegetarian Soups and Stews Stew
Time 3h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Warm water and vegetable bouillon in a slow cooker on High until dissolved. Add lentils, carrots, and potatoes.
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin and coriander and cook and stir until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add oil, followed by onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and transfer to the slow cooker. Stir. Add tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Stir in spinach.
- Cook on High, stirring every 30 minutes, until lentils are tender and stew has thickened, 3 to 4 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 208.3 calories, Carbohydrate 36.4 g, Fat 2.1 g, Fiber 14.3 g, Protein 12 g, SaturatedFat 0.3 g, Sodium 193.9 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
Tips:
- Use a variety of lentils. This will give your stew a more complex flavor and texture.
- Soak the lentils before cooking. This will help them cook more evenly and quickly.
- Sauté the vegetables before adding the lentils. This will help them caramelize and develop a richer flavor.
- Use a flavorful broth. This will add depth and richness to the stew.
- Season the stew to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other spices to your liking.
- Serve the stew with a side of bread or rice. This will help to soak up the delicious broth.
Conclusion:
Croatian lentil stew is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a great way to use up leftover lentils. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this stew is sure to become a family favorite.
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