Lentil Bourguinion

Lentil Bourguinon, with onion "bowl"

My favourite cuisine by far is French. The cheese, wine, delicate sauces and freshly baked pastries are amazing, but what I enjoy most is the rustic flavours a lot of French cooking retains. Unfortunately for me, most French cooking is decidedly meat oriented. So this is my vegetarian take on a classic French dish - Beef Bourguinion. It's easy enough to eat for Sunday night dinner, like we did, but polished enough to serve to guests (especially with a presentation like the one I suggest below instead of the traditional stew-like serving). Even your carnivorous friends will enjoy it (mine did!).

You probably have this in your cupboards already!

  Ingredients: 
 1 large yellow or vidallia onion
 2 handfuls of mushrooms (use white or mix
 portobellos & porcini - gives it a beefy taste)
 1 can lentils
 2 tbsp soya sauce
 1/3 cup red wine
 1 tbsp olive oil
 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
 1/2 tsp onion salt
 1 tsp sage
 1 tbsp fresh thyme (remove leaves from sprig)
 1 bay leaf


 salt and pepper
 fresh baguette to serve on the side


Instructions: 
1. Cut onion in half. Chop off the end of each onion. Pop out the centre layers of the onion so 3 outside layers remain - this will form the "bowl" for your lentil/mushroom mix.
2. Roast the outside layer onion bowl (with a splash of olive oil and cracked pepper and salt) in the oven at 400 F for approx. 10 minutes or until slightly softened.
3. Chop the centre layers of the onion and set aside.

Make sure the "bowls" are thick enough to maintain shape

4. Finely slice (or quarter) the mushrooms. Fry on medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pan in a splash of olive oil.
5. Once the mushrooms are sweating (emitting their own liquid) add sliced onions and garlic. Fry until onions are translucent, approx. 2-3 minutes.

These mushrooms are "sweating"

6. Add lentils and spices. Cook for 3 more minutes.
7. Add wine and soya sauce (if you want extra sauce to soak bread in, double the amount for both wine and soya sauce). Simmer for 5 minutes or until you're done slicing bread and setting the table.
8. To serve, place onion bowl in centre of plate and spoon the mushroom/lentil mixture on top so it's spilling over the sides. Serve with french bread and wine.

All ingredients. Double the liquid ingredients for extra sauce. 

We paired this with a Malbec, which we promptly recycled and I can't recall the name of. Regardless, this dish calls for red wine, something a bit earthy, and mild tannin. French Pinot is an obvious choice given the name of the dish, but Merlot or Syrah could be enjoyable as well.

In other exciting news - I  have a friend that is looking to get into food photography and would like to take pictures for The Truth About Grapes! Poor quality iPhone photos will end with the next posting.

Big Green Salad

Big Green Salad (sorry for the poor quality iPhone photo)

Greetings! Firstly, sorry it's been so long. There's no excuse! Secondly, new look to the blog. Let me know how it's working for you. Thirdly, and most importantly, my team at work is doing a weight loss challenge. While my coworkers spend the next 10 weeks swapping theories on carbs, trading cabbage soup recipes and fasting, I plan to post an update a week in the hopes of proving you can actually enjoy food and be healthy! 

I made this salad a few weeks ago and Jo loved it. So we experimented last week and wrote down all the ingredients. And for lack of a better name, it became Big Green Salad. I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Salad ingredients: 

Quinoa (like rice, but more weird)

- 1 bunch spinach

- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa

- 2 carrots, peeled and grated

- 1 cup dried cranberries

- 1 red pepper, sliced

- 1 zucchini, chopped and quartered

- 1 avocado, sliced (optional)

- handful of fresh mint, shredded

- 1/2 cup reduced-fat feta cheese, crumbled

- 1/3 cup pine nuts

- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

Dressing: 

- 2 tbsp miso paste

- 1 tbsp maple syrup

- 2 tbsp lemon juice

- dash of Worcestershire sauce

- dash of hot sauce (optional)

1. Cook quinoa according to package instructions (usually 1.5 units water / 1 unit quinoa - bring to a boil in a saucepan and then simmer 10-12 minutes or until light and translucent). Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and set aside. 

2. Wash all vegetables and slice, shred, grate etc. Combine in large salad bowl. 

3. Top with mint, feta, pine nuts and pumpkin seeds. 

4. Combine all ingredients for dressing and mix until smooth. 

5. Pour dressing over salad. Toss and serve. 

Miso paste - you can get this at all health stores

I realize it's not the most ground breaking recipe, but I guarantee the quinoa will help fill you up and the quinoa, nuts, seeds, and feta will provide sufficient protein. The avocado is optional depending on the desired fat content (remember though, avocados contain the healthy fats, and there's no oil in this dressing!). You should have enough for 2 dinners and 2 lunches the next day (we agreed it tastes better as a leftover!). 

I won't blog about the wine pairing, as I'm pretty sure we actually have this with a dirty martini pre-Wine Stage, but I will update on a delicious Zinfandel I must give Jo credit for. Turley, from Napa, is a full bodied Zinfandel with a velvety texture. The aromas of chocolate and raspberries followed through on the palate - it was like drinking dessert! I reduced some of it and served it on top of roast duck breast, beets,  brussels sprouts, and fennel mashed potatoes (I know - diet fail, but you make exceptions for birthdays). 

 Oh, and sorry for the poor quality iPhone photos - I got sand in my camera in Costa Rica. I hope to get a new camera soon (with a special setting for food if I get my way). I would consider monetizing my blog so my followers can donate to the cause, but it would be more direct to just ask my parents to buy me a camera (yes parentals, this is a test to see if you're reading my blog!)