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Clay-Baked Minoan Lentils - Minoikes Fakes

One of the most fascinating aspects of Greek cuisine is the continuity of use of so many ingredients from prehistoric times to the present. Among the oldest ingredients still revered today are honey, olive oil, herbs, and native pulses, first among which is the humble lentil. Honey, together with spices and herbs, was often used to flavor savory dishes in antiquity as well. The recipe that follows is my adaptation, with a fair amount of poetic license!
Course dinner, Lunch, salad
Cuisine Greek, Greek cuisine, Mediterranean diet
Keyword coriander, Cretan food, Diane Kochilas, extra virgin olive oil, Greek food, greek honey, Greek olive oil, legumes, lentils
PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 1 hour 45 minutes
SERVES 6

Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup 160 ml extra-virgin Greek olive oil, plus more if needed
  • 2 large leeks trimmed, washed well, and chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 pound 450 g dried small green or brown lentils, picked over for debris and rinsed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 dried Greek oregano sprigs
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds crushed in a mortar with a pestle or in a spice grinder
  • 1½ teaspoons cumin seeds crushed in a mortar with a pestle or in a spice grinder
  • ¼ cup 60 ml Greek thyme honey, pine honey, or blossom honey
  • 2 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
  • Sea salt
  • Water or vegetable broth

Instructions

  1. In a large wide pan or flameproof clay casserole, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring, for about 8 minutes to soften. Stir in the garlic. Add the lentils and stir to coat with the oil. Pour in enough water to cover the lentils by 2 inches (5 cm). Add the bay leaves and oregano sprigs, raise the heat slightly, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the lentils are al dente but not completely cooked. The lentils will have absorbed almost all the water by the time they are ready to come off the stove. Discard the oregano sprigs and bay leaves.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
  3. If you were using a metal pan, empty the lentils into a clay or glass baking dish with a lid. Toss the lentils with the remaining olive oil, the coriander, cumin, honey, vinegar, and salt to taste. Add enough water or vegetable broth to cover the lentils by about ½ inch (1.5 cm). Cover and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the lentils are tender but still retain their shape. Check on the liquid content during baking and add additional water or broth as needed. The end result should not be soupy or too wet, but rather the lentils should have absorbed all the liquid in the pan, expanded nicely, and not disintegrated or dried out.