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Adas bi hamod

Lentils with chard and lemon

Adas bi hamod: Lebanese brown lentils with chard, potato, garlic and lots of lemon

Adas bi hamod — 'lentils with sourness' — is a Lenten staple in Lebanese Christian homes and a thrifty weeknight pot everywhere else, especially in the south. Brown lentils simmer with chard, potato and a fried paste of garlic and coriander until the broth turns thick, then a generous amount of lemon makes it tangy and refreshing. It is somewhere between a soup and a stew and is just as good warm or at room temperature with bread. Common mistake: adding the lemon at the start; the acid stops the lentils softening, so add it at the end. Chef's tip: mash a ladleful of lentils against the side of the pot to give the broth body without any flour.
Total time
60 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4
  • 9 oz brown lentilsrinsed
  • 6 ¼ cups water
  • 1 potatomedium, cut into 2 cm cubes
  • 14 oz Swiss chardleaves and stalks, shredded
  • 5 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onionchopped
  • 6 cloves garliccrushed
  • 1 oz fresh corianderchopped
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup lemon juiceabout 2 lemons

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Put 9 oz brown lentils and 6 ¼ cups water in a large pot, bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 minutes until just tender.

    20 min
  2. Step 2: Add 1 potato and simmer for 10 minutes, until a knife slides in.

    10 min
  3. Step 3: Meanwhile, heat 5 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and soften 1 onion for 6 minutes. Add 6 cloves garlic, 1 oz fresh coriander and 1 tsp ground cumin and fry for 1 minute until fragrant.

    7 min
  4. Step 4: Stir the onion mixture and 14 oz Swiss chard into the lentils with 1 ½ tsp salt. Simmer for 10 minutes until the chard stalks are tender, mashing a ladleful of lentils against the side of the pot to thicken.

    10 min
  5. Step 5: Take off the heat and stir in ½ cup lemon juice. Taste — it should be clearly tangy. Serve warm or at room temperature with flatbread.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
400 kcal
Protein
19 g
Carbs
52 g
Fat
15 g
Fibre
13 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does adas bi hamod take?
About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 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 potato?
Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
What can I use instead of onion?
2 shallots per onion.

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