Vegetable Chilli

Vegetable chilli


Ingredients

Makes 4 - 6 portions

For the sauce:

175g/6oz green lentils
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 large onion, chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
1-2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 red and 1 green pepper, stalk and seeds removed, and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 x 400g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes
1 heaped tbsp tomato purée
300ml/½ pint vegetable stock (make with a stock cube or bouillon powder)
100g/4oz frozen peas - defrosted
3 tbsp vegetarian pesto - optional.....leave it out or use ordinary pesto
1 courgette, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 can kidney beans, drained

Method
Place the green lentils in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them. Leave to soak for 30 minutes. Drain.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion and garlic together with the chilli and cumin, until the onions are softening.
Add the peppers, carrots and drained green lentils and cook for 5 minutes, stirring all the time. Add the tomatoes, purée, stock, and pesto, bring to the boil and simmer until the lentils are tender (about 30 minutes). Add the mushrooms and courgettes and simmer for 5 minutes more.
Season to taste.
Add the cooked kidney beans and simmer for 5 more minutes.

Add the peas ...cook for a further minute or so

Serve with cooked rice.