Pork and Lentils

(Can be made with chicken, but is not so flavoursome)

Pork and Lentils

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time 60 minutes (4-5 hours if using slow cooker)
Serves 4

Ingredients

4 x pork spare ribs
1 x onion, peeled and diced
1 x clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
4 x button mushrooms, sliced
1 x red pepper, deseeded and diced
1 x carrot, peeled and sliced
1 x leek, sliced
Good pinch mixed herbs
Good pinch chilli flakes
1 x tbsp wholegrain mustard
1 x tbsp tomato purée
3oz/80g x red lentils
½ x pint/280ml x chicken stock
Olive oil for frying

Hob Method

  1. In a saucepan add lentils to the stock and simmer gently for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are cooked.
  2. Heat the oil in another saucepan. Add the pork and fry for 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove pork and pour off excess oil.
  3. Add onion, garlic and chilli to the remaining oil in the pan and fry for 5 minutes or until onions are soft and pale golden.
  4. Add mushrooms, leeks, carrot and red pepper and fry gently. Add the browned pork.
  5. Add the lentil and stock mix, herbs, mustard and tomato purée. Stir carefully, cover and simmer on a gentle heat for 10 minutes.
  6. Serve immediately with mashed potato.

Slow Cooker Method

  1. Fry onion, garlic and chilli in hot oil for 5 minutes or until onions are soft and pale golden.
  2. Add mushrooms, leeks, carrot and red pepper and fry gently for few minutes then place in slow cooker.
  3. Brown the pork in the pan for few minutes, turning occasionally. Add to slow cooker.
  4. Pour stock over mixture and add lentils, herbs, mustard and purée. Stir well.
  5. Cook 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally, until lentils have dispersed in the stock.
  6. Serve with mashed potato.