Indulge in the symphony of flavors with Vegetable Pastitsio with Lentils, a tantalizing fusion of Greek and Middle Eastern culinary artistry. This hearty casserole boasts layers of tender vegetables, aromatic lentils, and a creamy béchamel sauce, all encased in a crispy phyllo pastry crust. The medley of vegetables, including zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers, provides a vibrant textural contrast to the soft lentils, while the béchamel sauce adds a luscious richness that harmonizes the flavors. Each bite reveals a delightful interplay of textures and tastes, leaving you craving more.
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VEGETARIAN PASTITSIO
From: "The Vegetarian Epicure" by Anna Thomas, first edition 1972. This book was a real find! Greek-Style casserole.
Provided by Engrossed
Categories Lentil
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
- Add onions, eggplant, garlic and seasonings. Cover and let saute, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and lentils with a little liquid. Cook until very thick.
- Stir in tomato paste and heat through. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Butter a large casserole of oblong baking dish and layer half of the noodles across the bottom. Sprinkle one third of the parmesan over the noodles. Layer half of the sauce over noodles and parmesan.
- Layer the remaining half of the noodles over the sauce, sprinkle with one third of the parmesan and cover with the remaining sauce. *You could refrigerate it at this point if you want to make it ahead of time.
- Custard Sauce:.
- Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat, stir in flour, and let roux cook a few minutes.
- Pour in heated milk, stirring with a whisk.
- Slowly whisk sauce into beaten eggs.
- Pour sauce over entire casserole. It should drain through to the bottom and bind the whole thing together. If it sits on top, slide a butter knife in and out of the layers in a few places.
- Sprinkle with remaining parmesan and cover.
- Bake for 1 hour.
- Serve very hot.
VEGETABLE PASTITSIO WITH LENTILS
I adapted this recipe from the Moosewood celebrates cook book. They call for egg plant but didn't have any and it has marginal nutritional value. I think this recipe works well with any variety of vegetables. I also used gouda cheese instead of feta because that is what I had on hand.
Provided by ttbyts
Categories Lentil
Time 1h35m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 28
Steps:
- Cook lentils, one clove of garlic and bay until tender. When done, drain any excess liquid and bay leaf. Smash garlic into lentils.
- cook onion and garlic in pan until onion is transparent. Add the fresh vegetables and cook until they are partially cooked. Add tomatoes, wine and salt and pepper, cook for 15 minutes.
- Add lentils to vegetables and cook until ready to layer.
- Boil noodles to al dente (8-10 minutes).
- drain when done and toss with olive oil and parmesan.
- Cover and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Melt butter in saucepan, add flour and whisk 1-2 minutes.
- Add hot milk and cook until it starts to thicken.
- Remove from heat and add nutmeg and salt.
- Add eggs slowly.
- Layer in baking dish vegetable/lentil mix, noodles, half of feta, vegetables, noodles, more feta, bechamel sauce and parmesan.
- Bake covered for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and let cook until bubbly and brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 396.4, Fat 15.2, SaturatedFat 8.8, Cholesterol 121.5, Sodium 527.7, Carbohydrate 46.1, Fiber 6.3, Sugar 6.3, Protein 19.9
VEGETARIAN PASTITSIO
In our veggie version of this Greek pasta dish, budget-friendly lentils replace the meat and we've used a little balsamic vinegar instead of wine
Provided by Sara Buenfeld
Categories Dinner
Time 1h40m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the onions and oil in a large saucepan with the bouillon, bay leaves, the vinegar, garlic, oregano and cinnamon. Add a mug of water (about 250ml), then cover and simmer for 10 mins until soft. Uncover and cook for 10 mins more, stirring frequently. The water should evaporate after this time and the onions should be soft.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water following pack instructions, or for 10 mins until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Stir the tomatoes, tomato purée and the lentils, along with their liquid, into the onions. Stir well, then cover and simmer for 5 mins. Remove the bay leaves.
- To make the white sauce, pour the milk and 200ml water into a pan with the flour, whisk well to stop lumps forming and keep stirring until thickened, for about 8-10 mins.
- Stir the egg white into the pasta and spoon over the base of a baking dish. Top with the lentil mixture. Stir the egg yolk into the white sauce, then spoon on top of the lentils, scatter over the feta and oregano, then bake in the oven for 40 mins until bubbling.
- Serve half with the tomato and onion salad, and chill the rest for another day. Will keep chilled for up to two days. Reheat in the microwave on plates until piping hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 576 calories, Fat 11 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 85 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 19 grams sugar, Fiber 18 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Sodium 1.5 milligram of sodium
BALSAMIC LENTIL PIES WITH VEGETABLE MASH
Bake a comforting vegetarian version of shepherd's pie using lentils. The pies are rich in calcium, folate and iron as well as delivering three of your 5-a-day
Provided by Sara Buenfeld
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Supper
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan and fry the onions for 8 mins until softened and golden. Put a full kettle on to boil. Stir the lentils, rosemary, bouillon and balsamic vinegar into the onions, pour in 1 litre boiling water and simmer for 35-40 mins until the lentils are soft but still have some bite.
- Meanwhile, steam or boil the root veg for 25 mins and half the broccoli for 12-15 mins. Wilt half the spinach for 2 mins in a hot pan with a drop of oil.
- Mash the root veg with a hand blender or masher. Spoon the lentils into four individual pie dishes, top with the mash, then scatter over the cheese. While they're still hot, grill two pies to melt the cheese and serve with the cooked green veg. Chill the rest until needed. Will keep for three days in the fridge. To reheat the pies, bake in the oven at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 35 mins. Cook the rest of the green veg (as above) to serve alongside.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 457 calories, Fat 12 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 53 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 12 grams sugar, Fiber 17 grams fiber, Protein 26 grams protein, Sodium 0.6 milligram of sodium
VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA
This recipe always gets rave reviews from vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Easy to make, but takes time. Serve with salad.
Provided by Anne Buchanan
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 2h
Yield 7
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and set aside for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Rinse and pat eggplant dry. Cook eggplant and zucchini in hot oil until lightly browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side; remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a paper towel-lined plate, reserving as much oil as possible in the skillet
- Adding more oil to skillet as needed and let it get hot. Cook potato slices in hot oil until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side; remove with slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate, again reserving oil in the skillet.
- Saute onion and garlic in reserved oil until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour in vinegar, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium-low; cook until liquid is reduced in volume and thick. Stir in tomatoes, lentils, 1/2 the juice from lentils, oregano and parsley. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes.
- Layer about 1/3 of the eggplant, 1/3 of the zucchini, 1/2 the potatoes, 1/2 the onions, and 1/2 the feta into a 13x9-inch baking dish. Pour tomato mixture over vegetables; repeat layering, finishing with a layer of eggplant and zucchini.
- Cover and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Stir butter, flour, and milk together in a small saucepan; bring to a slow boil, whisking constantly until thick and smooth. Season with pepper and nutmeg; stir. Remove from heat, cool for 5 minutes, and stir in beaten egg.
- Pour sauce over vegetables and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for another 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 239.8 calories, Carbohydrate 25.5 g, Cholesterol 58.2 mg, Fat 11.8 g, Fiber 4.8 g, Protein 10.2 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 425.7 mg, Sugar 9.3 g
Tips for Making a Perfect Vegetable Pastitsio with Lentils:
- Use a variety of vegetables. This will give your pastitsio a more flavorful and colorful filling.
- Don't overcook the vegetables. You want them to be tender, but still have a bit of crunch.
- Make sure the lentils are cooked through. Otherwise, they will be hard and unpleasant to eat.
- Use a good quality béchamel sauce. This is the key to a creamy and delicious pastitsio.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices and herbs. This is a great way to customize your pastitsio to your own taste.
Conclusion:
Vegetable pastitsio with lentils is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a vegetarian or vegan meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. The combination of lentils, vegetables, and béchamel sauce creates a flavorful and satisfying dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting vegetarian recipe, give vegetable pastitsio with lentils a try.
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