Last updated on December 3rd, 2017 at 08:58 am
I don’t know what to call this dish, really.
It’s not vegan paella or a risotto, it’s just a bulgur, red lentils and butternut squash dinner recipe from heaven.
One thing I know for sure: this is delicious. Like very very delicious.
And yes, I made another recipe with almost the same ingredients I used in the bulgur, lentil and spinach soup recipe. Sue me.
Or you know, try them both – you already have the ingredients anyway.
Now to be honest with you, I made this recipe a while ago. I know, I am a horrible person and I am super behind with my posts.
It was the time when butternut squash was still kinda popular…so about beginning of December last year. I told you, I am a horrible person.
Where are you going to find butternut squash now?
I don’t know.
But I know you can use frozen spinach, carrots, kale or whatever vegetable you have and love. Don’t use anything you don’t like.
There are about 576718236.6 things I love about this healthy dinner recipe. But one of my favorites is that it cooks in just one huge pan.
This means, since my dishwasher was non-existent when I made this, I could still enjoy my dinner without the fear that I will have to clean like Cinderella afterwards.
Aside from some chopping and stirring you really do
n’t need to do much here. You just start with some onions, garlic, spices.
Then the rest of the ingredients, you pour some sugar, ummm no, better hot water on them. Then you leave it alone at medium, medium-high maybe.
But, you still keep an eye on it and stir from time to time. You’ll be ready in about 20-30 minutes (depending how long your lentils need).
After I made this and tried it, I really couldn’t believe this thing was completely vegan. It was just sooo good.
Usually I would need some yogurt sauce with it, but this was so delicious just like that. It’s a very simple, but satiating taste.
Health and Beauty Benefits
Dreams do come true, because this quick, tasty and very plant-based dinner is also healthy.
Are you kidding me?
I am not. But I obviously am talking to myself a lot.
This dish has the perfect combination of fiber, protein, magnesium, iron, folic acid, beta carotene and a lot of other chemicals with very weird names found in plants that make us feel good and prevent disease.
The one thing that might be on the low here is vitamin C, since it disappears after being heated. But you need it, to make collagen and more importantly with this dinner recipe – to absorb the plant iron better. There’s a lot of iron here, it would be a shame if you don’t get most of it.
So make sure you drink some fresh juice, water with lemon, or just have some salad on the side.
A delicious easy and healthy dinner that is perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup butternut squash, chopped (or other vegetable)
- 1/2 cup red lentils (soaked)
- 1/2 cup bulgur, coarse
- 1/2 cup mint leaves, washed
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce or 2 small tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 tsp cumin (dry, ground)
- 1/2 tsp coriander (dry, ground)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric, ground
- 1/2 - 1 tbsp hot red pepper flakes (or paprika)
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pan at medium-high, heat the chopped onion, minced garlic and butternut squash with 1 tbps olive oil for about 2 min, stirring.
- Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, red pepper flakes, black pepper, stir.
- Add tomatoes or tomato sauce, stir. Then add lentils and bulgur and 1/2 to 1 tsp salt (you might need to add more salt later).
- Add 2/3 cup hot water, stir well together. Cover with lid and let cook at medium for 7-8 min. Add the mint and cook a little more - about 7-8 more minutes, until red lentils and bulgur are ready.
- Take off heat and sprinkle some olive oil (about 1 tbsp). Stir again.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or more mint.
Notes
Instead of butternut squash - use any vegetable you love. This dinner recipe is completely vegan, but it's not gluten-free. To make gluten-free you can use rice (but it won't have all the nutrients that bulgur has).
Okay, so next time it will be just bulgur and spinach, so we get all those recipes done 🙂
I added some spinach and smoked paprika as well. Loved it!
I love spinach in this as well! Have not tried the smoked paprika, but will now have to give it a try 😉 Glad you liked it & thanks a lot for stopping by and for your feedback!
Looks really good! I’m gonna try this soon 🙂 always a fan of easy one-pot dishes like this! And lentils in general…
Oh but is it just me or did you maybe forget to mention the turmeric in the ingredient list? Should I also use about 1/2 tsp?
Thank you for the sweet comment, Elise! Yes, it’s 1/2 tsp turmeric, ground – I find this spice mix very good in soups and one-pot dishes. Thank you for letting me know about the “typo”, will update the recipe now 🙂