Mixed beans and barley stew with fresh green lentil salad

Mixed beans and barley stew

You will need:

vegetarian oil

one onion

4 garlic cloves

500 g cherry tomatoes

400 g mixed beans in water (pinto, cannelini, kidney)

basil

1 dl barley

olives

lemon juice

salt and black pepper

1. Chop the onion to four pieces. Peel the garlic cloves. Was the cherry tomatoes. Heat the vegetarian oil in a frying pan. Add the onions, garlic and cherry tomatoes. Let the tomatoes and onions give their juice and soften.

2. Add the basil and mix it to the juice. Pour off the water from the mixed beans and add the beans to the pan. Let the food stew for some minutes. 

3. Add the barley. When the barley is cooked spice the food: Put some salt, black pepper, lemon juice and olives. Mix properly.

Fresh green lentil salad

You will need:

400 g Green lentils in water

2 dl parsley

8 cherry tomatoes

one red onion

lemon juice

salt and black pepper

1. Chop tomatoes. Mince the red onion and parsley.

2. Pour of the water from the lentils. Mix all ingredients together.

3. Spice the salad with lemon juice, salt and black pepper.

I also made simple guacamole with white bread by mixing 2 avocados, minced red onion, salt, black pepper and lemon juice.

I have been so into cooking lately. Must be the early summer days that encourage to try new recipes and spend time in the kitchen experimenting with fresh vegetables and herbs. 

I believe that the simple the better. With salt, black pepper, onion and lemon juice plus some herbs you cannot go wrong. Beans/lentils are both tasty and nutritional food and are easy to prepare if you choose to use canned versions. 

Feel free to experiment in your kitchen and do not feel pressure to make your food to look as it is in the recipe. By accident you might find your own version and next favorite food (this has happened to me many times..)

Greetings from the kitchen

Sannu