# Caramelized vegetable lentil stew

A meatless, savory lentil stew with caramelized vegetables and a yogurt condiment garnish.

- Servings: 4 servings
- Prep time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Diet: vegetarian
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 0.5 oz dried porcini mushroom
- 3 cup water
- olive oil, for frying
- 2 whole onion
- 2 whole star anise
- 1 head garlic
- 3 stalk celery sticks
- 2 whole red chili
- 2 whole carrot
- 0.25 cup butter
- 0.25 cup tomato paste
- 0.25 cup flour
- 1 shot brandy (optional)
- 1 lb red lentil
- 2 lb waxy potato
- salt
- black pepper
- smoked paprika
- bundle thyme sprigs
- 2 whole bay leaf
- 1 cup frozen pea
- 1 whole orange
- small amount celery leaves
- to taste soy sauce (optional)
- to taste chili flakes (optional)
- to taste greek yogurt
- pinch sugar

## Instructions

1. Steep dried porcini mushrooms in boiling water.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot and sauté sliced onions and star anise over high heat until browned.
3. Add bashed garlic cloves and chopped celery to the pot, deglazing with water as needed to prevent burning while caramelizing.
4. Add chopped red chilies and continue to cook until vegetables are deep amber.
5. Add butter, tomato paste, and flour to the pot; stir to incorporate and cook until the roux browns.
6. Deglaze with brandy, scrape the pot bottom, and remove star anise and rehydrated mushrooms (chopping mushrooms finely before returning to pot).
7. Add salt, mushroom soaking water, rinsed lentils, potatoes, pepper, smoked paprika, thyme, and bay leaves; add enough water to cover.
8. Simmer until carrots and potatoes are tender.
9. Mix a garnish of orange zest, saved celery leaves, and half a raw garlic clove; combine with Greek yogurt, pepper, salt, and sugar.
10. Season with soy sauce, more pepper, paprika, and chili flakes; add frozen peas and orange juice.

## Equipment

- pot
- knife
- cutting board
- spoon

## Tips

- Can add bacon at the beginning if desired.
- Use whole red or green lentils with the seed coat on to keep them intact.
- Use plain Greek yogurt, skyr, sour cream, or creme fraiche for the garnish.
- The yogurt condiment tastes better if left to sit for a while.

## Source

- Original video: https://youtu.be/XpkfHAaxNJc?si=D9Ooi7E0-znYXfiD
- Creator: Adam Ragusea
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/4214a74b-8716-445e-a8d9-b01911519f7d
- Extracted: 2026-10-29

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt