Lentils with a Puff Pastry Crust

I have been really celebrating beans this week! Thanks to my fiance who is always willing to eat what I make (he better!), I made almost every meal with some sort of bean. Last night it was Lentils! My favorite lentils to make are French Green Lentils. As long as you keep an eye on them while they are cooking, they keep their shape and don’t become mushy like others have a tendency to do.

This recipe is actually inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow. I was searching for some inspiration- I wanted to make some sort of warm lentils with sweet potatoes. So, GOOP came up (Her lifestyle/food/etc newsletter) and gave me a great recipe to start with. But, I wanted to make it more decadent by layering a puff pastry crust on top. It really gives the dish more appeal and taste. Although I’m sure it would be perfectly delicious on its own or with some sort of hearty grain.

Lentils with a Puff Pastry Crust
2 cups of french green lentils, rinsed and picked over
2 large sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, diced
little more than 1/4 teaspoon of oregano
little more than 1/4 teaspoon of thyme
salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1 and 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 and 1/2 tablespoons of REAL maple syrup
chili powder
puff pastry crust, 1 sheet defrosted at room temperature

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss sweet potatoes with 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil and maple syrup with a pinch of chili powder. Roast until potatoes are tender- about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

Cook french green lentils (at the same time as the sweet potatoes) according to instructions (mine took about 30 minutes). Remove and drain and set aside.

Saute onion and carrot with oregano and thyme in 2 teaspoons of olive oil until tender. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and mix in lentils, salt, pepper, and sweet potatoes.

Put the mixture in an oven safe casserole dish and layer a puff pastry sheet over top. Bake according to instructions and when its golden brown. Serve immediately!

Other posts you may enjoy:

1. Vegetable Pot Pie
2. Spinach and Veggie Torte
3. Curried Carrot Lentil Stew
4. On the Quest.. for good crust
5. Red Wine Braised Lentils