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Lentilha de Ano Novo
New Year lentil stew
Lentilha de Ano Novo: Brazil's New Year's Eve lentil stew with smoked paprika, eaten after midnight for luck
Just after the fireworks at midnight on 31 December, Brazilians from Copacabana to small towns in the interior eat a spoonful of lentils, because the little coin-shaped seeds are said to bring money in the year ahead. Many families keep a pot of this warm stew of lentils, tomato, carrot and smoked paprika on the stove all through the Réveillon party. It also makes a good weekday supper with rice. Chef's tip: keep it at a gentle simmer so the lentils hold their shape, as they are meant to look like little coins.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz brown or green lentils
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 3 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 carrotdiced
- 1 celery stickdiced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 ripe tomatoeschopped
- 5 cups water
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Spread the 10 ½ oz brown or green lentils on a plate, pick out any small stones, then rinse them in a sieve.
3 minStep 2: Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Fry the 1 onion, 1 carrot and 1 celery stick for 6 minutes until soft, add the 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp smoked paprika and ½ tsp ground cumin and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
7 minStep 3: Add the lentils, 2 ripe tomatoes, 2 bay leaves and 5 cups water. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25–30 minutes. Boiling it hard is the mistake that splits the lentils into mush; they are ready when tender but still whole.
30 minStep 4: Season with the 1 ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper, simmer 2 minutes more, remove the bay leaves and stir in the 3 tbsp chopped parsley and spring onion.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 10 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lentilha de Ano Novo take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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