Butternut squash and lentil samb

Inspired by the South Indian Sambar, or lentil-based vegetable stew, this colourful dish is lovely served warm with chops or fish, or on its own with bread. It can also be eaten cold as a salad. This can be made up to a day ahead, kept in a covered container in the fridge and reheated.

Serves 6 as a main dish or 12 as a side dish

Ingredients
4 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
1 leek, sliced
5 garlic cloves, crushed
1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
250g (9oz) dried Puy lentils, rinsed
100ml (3½fl oz) white wine
600ml (1 pint) chicken or vegetable stock
1 large butternut squash (about 800g/1¾lb), peeled, deseeded and cut into 2cm (¾in) chunks
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp chopped parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper

What to do
1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7.

2 Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a deep frying pan, add the onions, leek, garlic and red pepper and fry over a medium-high heat for 5 minutes until starting to soften. Stir in the lentils (see tip), pour in the white wine and stock and bring to the boil, stirring. Cover with a lid, lower the heat and simmer for 40–45 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Remove the lid for the last 5–10 minutes if there is still a lot of liquid.

3 Meanwhile, pour the remaining oil into a large roasting tin, add the squash, tossing to coat in the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 25–30 minutes or until golden and tender.

4 Add the squash to the lentils, season with salt and pepper, stir in the mustard and parsley and serve hot.

TIP: Do not season the lentils before they are cooked as this will make the outer skins tough.

[Adverts]

This recipe is extracted from Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites by Mary Berry (BBC Books, hardback £25)

Mary Berry will be appearing live at the BBC Good Food Show Scotland, SECC Scotland 6-8th November. BBC Good Food Show London and the BBC Good Food Show Bakes & Cakes, Olympia London 13-15th November and BBC Good Food Show Winter, NEC Birmingham 26-29th November.

•For further information about BBC Good Food events, check out:
https://www.bbcgoodfoodshowscotland.com/
http://www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com/
http://www.bbcgoodfoodbakesandcakesshow.com/
https://www.bbcgoodfoodshowwinter.com/
https://www.bbcgoodfoodfestivefayre.com/

[Adverts]