Potage Esau

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

• 8 oz Red Lentils
• 6 oz Onion ( finely chopped )
• 3 oz Carrot ( finely chopped )
• 6 cloves Garlic ( finely chopped )
• 1 inch Fresh Root ginger ( finely chopped )
• 8 Chillies, dried or fresh
• ½ teaspoon Chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon Powdered Cumin Seed
• 2 pints water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Tablespoon vegetable oil
• Black pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring water to the boil in a large saucepan. Put 4 dried chillies, half of the 1 inch piece Ginger, pepper and previously washed Lentils into it. Bring back to the boil and simmer for 1 hour. In a pan, fry the onion, garlic, carrot, and the remaining ginger until golden. Add the cumin, chilli powder and remaining dried chillies and fry for 2 to 3 minutes. After the Lentils have cooked, add the contents of the frying pan to the pot and cook for 15 minutes. Add the Lemon Juice. Serve with croutons or toast and a mixed side salad.

My father who gave me this recipe some years ago claimed that it was prepared originally by Rebekah, the mother of Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of potage. I''m not convinced. I don''t think chillies reached the Middle East that early. Nice idea though..

Serves: 4.

Preparation time: 90 mins.