Healthy Braised Lentils with Kale

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 5 min
  • Active: 25 min
In the Mediterranean, meals rely heavily on plant-based recipes favoring legumes, whole grains and loads of fresh vegetables and fruits. This recipe fully embraces that philosophy, borrowing a few of the classic cooking techniques and ingredient combinations from the region--firm black lentils from France and olive oil-fried eggs from Spain. This recipe is super simple, yet hearty enough to satisfy even the most hard-core meat eaters in your family.
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Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

1 fennel bulb, trimmed and finely chopped

Kosher salt

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

4 cloves garlic, minced

One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth or low-sodium chicken broth

3/4 cup black French lentils or beluga lentils

Freshly ground black pepper

3 cups baby kale

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

4 large eggs

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a 6-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, fennel and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the rosemary and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until very fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, broth, lentils and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring just to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just tender, about 30 minutes. There will be a good amount of broth left in the pot, which is fine. Turn off heat and stir in the kale and 3 tablespoons of the parsley until the kale is just wilted. Divide the lentil mixture among 4 large bowls and set aside while frying the eggs.
  2. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet. Crack the eggs into the skillet and sprinkle with salt and pepper; fry 2 minutes for sunny-side up, or longer if firmer yolks are desired. Top each serving of lentils with a fried egg and sprinkle with the remaining parsley.  

Let's Get Cooking!

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Anonymous

If you are looking for a tasty vegan dish for breakfast, or just a healthy way to start your day, this recipe is a winner. You can top it with an egg, egg whites, or eat it without the eggs. It is hearty enough that you won't miss the sausage or bacon.

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