Stewed Lentil Peas

Stewed Lentil Peas

I think its safe to say that stewed lentil peas can easily make into a top 10 list of best Trinbagonian comfort foods. This delicious vegan dish is easily one of my favorite things to make and definitely one of my favorite things to eat. Whether you’re having it with rice, dumplings, provision or bread. With stewed beef or stewed fish, any day of the week, lentil peas is a dish near and dear to Trinidad & Tobago and it doesn’t always get its just due in the food conversation. Today we pay respects to stewed lentil peas. Thank you for being delicious.

Ingredients

• 16oz dried Lentil Peas
• 1 large onion diced
• 6 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 1/2″ piece of ginger minced
• 4 pimentos minced
• 1 cup of pumpkin cubed
• 1 sprig of rosemary finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper
• 2 tbsp roucou
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups of water
• 3 tbsp oil
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Method

1. Heat oil in a heavy iron pot then saute aromatics and veggies for one minute on high heat: onion, garlic, ginger, pimento and pumpkin
2. Add dried lentils and continue to saute for another minute
3. Add roucou & rosemary
4. Season with salt and black pepper then saute for 30 seconds
5. Add water, bay leaf and scotch bonnet pepper
6. Bring to a boil on high heat
7. Reduce heat to low, cover and allow to simmer for 45 minutes
8. Transfer peas to a bowl
9. Return the pot to a high flame, add brown sugar and caramelize until dark brown
10. Add peas then mix thoroughly
11. Cover and allow to simmer on low heat for 5 minutes
12. Serve & Enjoy

*top up with water as needed if peas mixture becomes too dry