Chicken with Lentils

Chicken with lentils-

Chicken with Lentils! Sounds a bit strange isn’t it? Trust me, this combination works.

There is a small story behind this dish. Not so long ago when we were in Tokyo, I was a fitness fanatic (well I still am). Back then I used to workout 2-3 hours a day.

The reason, back in 2011 after the great earthquake of Japan, I used to be too scared to be alone in my home so I would spend all that time in the gym.

One day around 19:00 an earthquake of 6.5 magnitude occurred near Tokyo. It wasn’t a big deal for us after seeing 9 magnitude earthquake but I still went berserk and spent my whole evening in my car till my husband returned home.

In hindsight it was a mad decision and I can laugh about it today. Albeit it wasn’t back then. After I came home I had 15 minutes to cook dinner with a very few ingredients in my pantry. And this is how this lentil dish was born. That day I served it with pan fried tofu.

Since then I try to come up with different combinations with lentils. Chicken with lentils is definitely one of my favourites.

Some days I don’t feel like cooking too many things for me and the husband because most of the times I am only eating lentils or beans for dinner. Be that as it may, I can’t expect him to have the same thing as me. The other day I was having the same dilemma, whether to cook or to order from outside and we both don’t enjoy restaurant food here.  I thought of making chicken and salad for myself but after my boxing workouts I was too tired and hungry so I made this chicken with lentils.

Try this dish and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Chicken Marination Ingredients:

• 4 chicken drumsticks
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp gin
• A few rosemary sprigs
• Black pepper, chilli flakes and salt to taste
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions:

Marinate chicken in all the above ingredients at least for 2 hours.

Ingredients for cooking:

• 1 big or 2 small onions medium diced
• 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• ½ cup assorted herbs chopped (Coriander, tarragon, rosemary, basil and oregano)
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• ½ tsp or to taste red chilli flakes
• ¼ tsp clove powder
• Salt to taste
• ½ cup gin
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 180 C/350 F.

Heat oil and add onions, sauté for 2 minutes. Add in the garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.

Add in the marinated chicken, brown the chicken from both sides.  Add the spice powder, salt and mix well, sauté for 5-7 minutes. Add in the herbs.

Add in the gin and let it reduce a bit, place the pan in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or till the chicken is cooked and juicy.

You can skip this step and cook it on the gas till it’s tender.

Serve this chicken with lentils.

Enjoy

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup cooked brown lentils or 1 can of lentils
• 1 big onion finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• ½ cup canned fire roasted or diced tomatoes
• 2 chillies finely chopped (optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped rosemary
• 1 tbsp chopped tarragon
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
• ½ tsp red chilli powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp olive oil

Instructions:

Heat butter and oil together. Add in the onions, chillies, garlic and sauté till golden brown. Add in the tomatoes and red chilli powder, continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

Add in the herbs, smoked paprika and nutmeg powder. Add salt and mix it well.

Add in the cooked lentils, mix well. Add in the water, simmer for 10 minutes.

Garnish with the herbs you desire.

Serve hot.