This Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and caramelized onions dish has been one of my family’s favourite Cypriot dishes for years.
The addition of carrots and serving them with caramelized onions on top, add a lovely sweetness to the dish and an intense depth of flavour.
My mother would make this dish, with any kind of small pasta, instead of adding rice, (see Fakhes Moutjentra) and the first time I ate them with carrots was at my sister Zoe’s house.
I love dried legumes, especially lentils and if I were to chose between a meat dish or a legume dish, I would definitely choose the latter. This is one of the reasons I have made so many twists to the classic Cypriot dish.
This is a very easy dish to prepare and you can make half of the preparation ahead if you like.
However, it is advisable to add the orzo just before serving as like any other pasta, orzo will continue cooking and absorbing the juices from the food and will become dry.
How to make the Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and Caramelized Onions
Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onions, stirring regularly for about 15 minutes. When they lightly start to brown remove half of them and set aside.
Season the remaining with salt and pepper. Add the balsamic vinegar and petimezi (grape syrup) and stir until the juices are absorbed and the onions become caramelized (total time about 30 – 40 minutes).
Simultaneously put the lentils and bay leaf in a pot and add water to cover them. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Strain and discard the bay leaf.
Put them back in the pot, together with the grated tomato and grated carrots and water. Bring to a boil and simmer until lentils are almost cooked (about 30 minutes). Add the lightly browned onion and continue cooking for fifteen more minutes. (If we started cooking early, at this point we can stop cooking until it is lunch time. All we have to do is to bring it back to a boil again).
Add orzo and cook for about 15 – 20 minutes, stirring regularly until all juices are absorbed.
Serve with the caramelized onions on top.
Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and Caramelized Onions
This Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and caramelized onions dish has been one of my family's favourite Cypriot dishes for years. The addition of carrots and serving them with caramelized onions on top, add a lovely sweetness to the dish and an intense depth of flavour.
Ingredients
- 200 grams brown lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- Water to cover them
- 3 small carrots coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
- 600 ml water
- 400 grams fresh tomatoes, grated
- Salt and freshly grated black pepper
- 1 cup (195 grams) medium orzo
Ingredients:
- 4 red onions, cut into slices
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon petimezi (grape syrup or molasses)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onions, stirring regularly for about 15 minutes When they lightly start to brown remove half of them and set aside.
- Season the remaining with salt and pepper Add the balsamic vinegar and petimezi (grape syrup) and stir until the juices are absorbed and the onions become caramelized (total time about 30 - 40 minutes).
- Simultaneously put the lentils and bay leaf in a pot and add water to cover them Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes Strain and discard the bay leaf.
- Put them back in the pot, together with the grated tomato and grated carrots and water Bring to a boil and simmer until lentils are almost cooked (about 30 minutes) Add the lightly browned onion and continue cooking for fifteen more minutes (If we started cooking early, at this point we can stop cooking until it is lunch time All we have to do is to bring it back to a boil again).
- Add orzo and cook for about 15 - 20 minutes, stirring regularly until all juices are absorbed.
- Serve with the caramelized onions on top if you like, but this is optional.
Nutrition Information
Amount Per Serving Calories 609.34Total Fat 28.37gSaturated Fat 3.99gSodium 1190.28mgCarbohydrates 73.94gFiber 10.52gSugar 14.24gProtein 18.38g
You can find many more Greek recipes in my cookbook “More Than A Greek Salad”, and “Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste!” both available on all Amazon stores.
Lenten Recipes (mostly vegan)
During the Greek Orthodox Fasting period, meat and animal prodÂucts (cheese, milk, butter, eggs, lard), fish (meaning fish with backbones), olive oil and wine (all alcoholic drinks) are not consumed during the weekdays of Great Lent Octopus and shell-fish are allowed, as is vegetable margarine, shortening, and vegetable oils, gelatin, olives, as well as honey are allowed.
Vegan Spinach Risotto
A healthy vegan risotto, which is made the classic way, adding onions, leeks and aromatic herbs, which add an amazing taste to this dish!
Aromatic Black-eyed Peas with Wild Greens and Quinoa
This aromatic black-eyed peas dish cooked with quinoa & wild greens, is a simple, healthy and a complete-meal you definitely should try.
Mpamies me liastes ntomates (braied okra with sun dried tomatoes
Mpamies (okra with sun-dried tomatoes) is a light and healthy low carb dish which is full of nutrients and other healthy properties.
Athoi Gemistoi (Stuffed Zucchini Flowers)
Kolokythoanthoi or Ath(th)oi, as they are called in Cyprus,
pronounced with a thick "th", are the blossoms of the courgettes
(zucchini) which are filled with rice.
Kounoupidi me Patates Kapamas (Stewed Cauliflower with Potatoes)
Kounoupidi me Patates Kapamas (pr. kou-nou-PEE-dee MEH Pah-TAH-tess Kah-pah-MASS) is a simple vegan Greek Stew with potatoes. You can also make the dish without the potatoes and serve it as a side dish.
Ampelofassoula or Louvi (Fresh Black Eyed Peas) with Kolokoui
Ampelofassoula are the fresh green green beans (Vigna unguiculata) also known as cow peas, also called louvi in Cyprus. These beans are eaten before they mature,usually boiled and eaten as a salad with olive oil and lemon juice.
Vegan Chickpea Burgers with Zucchini and Bulgur
These vegan chickpea burgers are packed with spices and herbs, very  healthy and seriously satisfying !
Penne with Chickpeas and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Whole Wheat Penne with Chickpeas, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and roasted garlic is a delicious and healthy vegan pasta dish. A delicious summer meal.
Greek Chickpea Salad with Quinoa and Tahini Sauce
This healthy Greek chickpea salad is a filling dish on its own, packed with protein from the chickpeas, quinoa and tuna and full of vitamins from the herbs, vegetables and salad dressing.
Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno (Baked Giant Beans)
Gigantes plaki is a deliciously hearty vegan dish made with giant beans, which are cooked until soft and then baked in a delicious tomato sauce until the beans absorb all the juices and caramelize.
Hoummous with Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlicky Olives
This Hummus Dip is a wonderful recipe which is based on the traditional hummus recipe but combined with roasted butternut squash and garlicky Greek olives.
Louvi - Black eyed Peas
Louvi is a healthy traditional Cypriot dish of black eyed peas, cooked with silverbeet (chard) and served with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
Coconut whipped cream is a dairy-free alternative to classic whipped cream, which is made with heavy whipping cream!
Vegan Carrot and Banana Cake with Coconut Frosting
A very moist, delicious and healthy Vegan Carrot Cake with Banana, Spices and topped with Coconut frosting and Bergamot fruit preserve.
Vegan, Lactose Free and Gluten Free Ryzogalo (rice pudding)
This coconut rice pudding is not only vegan but also lactose free and gluten free but equally creamy and delicious as the classic one!
Revithia giahni sti gastra (stewed chickpeas)
Revithia giahni sti gastra is a vegan dish with stewed chickpeas, traditionally cooked in a clay pot and baked in a wood burning oven. However, not all of us have wood burning ovens or clay pots but we can still cook it in a Dutch oven or any casserole dish in our home oven.  If you don't have any of the above, use a baking tin which cover with an aluminium tent.
Vegan Chocolate Ganache with Tahini
One of the easiest and delicious, vegan glazes to add on top of your vegan cakes and other creations!
How to make Aquafaba and Vegan Meringues
Vegan Meringues made with aquafaba are light, airy and crispy, which melt in your mouth, much better than egg meringues.
Vegan Carrot Cake with Chocolate
This vegan carrot cake is so easy to make, it is moist and tastes fantastic. You can eat it as it is or add a glaze on top!
Easy Homemade Apple Turnvers
There's nothing like homemade apple turnovers with homemade apple sauce. They are delicious and yet so easy, that any one can make these homemade turnovers.
Vegan Chocolate Avocado Orange Almond Cake
This vegan chocolate cake uses avocado and extra virgin olive oil instead of any other fat, it is loaded with chocolate flavor and and many other healthy ingredients.
Kollyva (Greek Memorial Food)
Kollyva, is a sweet dish prepared with boiled wheat berries, nuts, raisins, pomegranate and spices, which is taken to church to commemorate our deceased during funerals or memorials. Â
Cypriot pita bread
Cypriot pitta bread are much different to the Greek pitas. They are flatbread like the other pita but are different in shape and in taste.
Lagana Flatbread
Lagana (in Greek λαγάνα, pronounced lah-GHAH-nah) is a traditional Greek flatbread, which is made with flour, yeast, salt and water.
Bourekia me Manitaria (Mushrooms)
If you're looking for a take-along party appetizer recipe that's easy, impressive, and makes A LOT, these crispy mushroom phyllo triangles are it.Â
Glystarkes (Cypriot crusty, sesame rusks)
Glystarkes or glistarkes or gyristarkes, from the Greek verb γυρίζω = turn, is a kind of Cypriot grid-like crusty, sesame rusk. Â
Cypriot Tahinopita (Vegan Tahini Bread)
Cypriot Traditional Tahinopita is a Lenten or vegan sweet bread, which is very flavourful as it is filled with tahini, sugar and cinnamon.
Pantzaria Xydata (pickled beetroots)
Pantzaria Xydata (pronounced pan-TZAh-rhia Ksee-DAH-tah) are beets preserved in vinegar, which are one of our favourite vegetables to preserve.
Hummus Dip
Hummus or hoummous is a Middle Eastern dip made from mashed chickpeas and blended with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, spices and olive oil.
Vegan Chocolate Carrot Cake with Chocolate Tahini Glaze
This vegan Chocolate Carrot cake is moist and delicious with a chocolate - tahini glaze on top, which makes it not only healthy but also irresistible. Â
Vegan Dessert with store bought Halvas
This vegan dessert is made with store bought halvas, chocolate, toasted nuts, candied fruit or spoon sweets (glyka tou koutaliou) and coconut.
Tambouli Salad, Tabouli or Tabbouleh
Tambouli salad, also written as tabouli or tabbouleh, is a refreshing parsley salad, which is made with bulgur wheat tomatoes, onion, cucumber, fresh mint and dressed with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Tashi (Τahini) Dip
Tashi is a Cypriot vegan dip made with tahini, garlic and lemon juice. It goes well with almost any food and this appetizer is served in all Cypriot restaurants.
Hoummous Soup (Chickpeas soup)
Hoummous soup is made with the same ingredients as for hoummous dip. More hot broth is added until it reaches the consistency of a soup and is served with croutons. The cooked chickpeas can be freezed, so when making this soup, I usually boil more in order to make the dip whenever I like.
Revithokeftedes (Chickpea Patties)
Revithokeftedes (pr. reh-vee-thaw-kae-FTEH-thes) aka chickpea Patties is a delicious, healthy, Greek, vegan meal.
Koukia, Fava Beans, the Greek way
Koukia, Fava beans (Vicia faba), in Greek koukia (plural of word kouki), pr. kou-KHIA, is an easy, vegan Greek dish paired with lemon, dill, fennel and parsley, which adds lots of flavour to this healthy dish.
Vazania (melitzanes) giahni (stewed eggplants)
Vazania, is the name of eggplants in the Cypriot dialect, (in Greece they are called melitzanes), which are fried together with potatoes and stewed, to make them giahni, which is a delicious vegan and frugal dish. Â
Lahanoryzo (Greek Cabbage and Rice Stew)
Lahanoryzo is a frugal, vegan dish, made with cabbage and rice, cooked in a light tomato sauce..
Stewed Okra (Mpamies Giahni)
Fresh okra is often maligned for being slimy, but if they are handled properly, before cooked, these small, green pods will become delicious when cooked!
Fassolia Ηantres Giahni or Barbounofassoula (Stewed Borlotti Beans)
Hantres also called barbounofassoula, is a type of kidney bean with a pink speckled skin that turns brown when cooked.
Fassolia Piaz (Greek White Beans Salad)
Fassolia Piaz are white beans boiled and made into a salad. There are a lot of variations of this salad but we like it with tomatoes, onion, tuna, parsley, served with olive oil and lemon juice.
Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and Caramelized Onions
This Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and caramelized onions dish has been one of my family's favourite Cypriot dishes for years.
The addition of carrots and serving them with caramelized onions on top, add a lovely sweetness to the dish and an intense depth of flavour.
Greek Brown Lentils with Smoked Eggplant and Pasta
Brown Lentils with Smoked Eggplant and Pasta is inspired from my Cypriot dish called Fakhes Moudjentra.  It is a light dish with a lot of flavour from the smoked eggplant as well as sweetness from the onion and carrot. The pasta is cooked in the leftover fluid, which absorbs all the flavour and adds body to the dish, making it a healthy, nutritional and filling dish.
Fakes Moutzentra - Cypriot Lentils with Rice
Fakes moutzentra is a lentil recipe we make in Cyprus and is a high protein, balanced healthy food, especially with the combination of rice.
Healthy Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Add extra flavour and texture to your lentil salad combined with plenty of vegetables and protein for a nutritious lunch or side.
Fakes Soupa (Greek Lentil Soup)
Fakes (pronounced fakhés) is a Greek vegan lentil soup with vegetables.  It is of high nutritional value which makes it perfect for the cold days!
Lentil and Bulgur Spicy Salad
A perfect nutritional, light, summer side dish and why not a main dish. Â The Lentil and Bulgur Spicy Salad is vegan but if you are not vegan, it goes well with some Greek yoghurt.
Patates Lemonates (Lemony Greek roasted Potatoes) my way
Patates Lemonates my way, are Greek Lemony Potatoes, which is a twist to the classic Greek side dish of roasted potatoes, with a sweet and sour taste.
Patates Tiganites (Frιed Potatoes, the Greek way)
In some countries they call them potato chips and in others, French fries, fries or finger chips. Â In Greece, we call them "Patates Tiganites" (pr. pah-TAH-tess Tee-ghah-nee-TESS).
Penne Skordalia with Courgettes and Olives
Penne Skordalia is an easy and healthy pasta dish made with Walnut Skordalia, a Greek diip made with olive oil, garlic, bread and walnuts.
Pastitsio Nistisimo (Vegan)
Pastitsio nistisimo (pr. Pah-STEE-tsio Knee-STEE-see-moh) is a vegan pasta casserole dish made with tubular pasta, vegetable filling and topped with a vegan faux béchamel sauce. The same dish can be made vegetarian using the same filling but adding a real bechamel sauce on top.
Vegan Moussakas
This vegan moussakas is as delicious as the real one. It is layered with eggplant, potatoes and zucchini, with a vegan vegetable filling and a delicious vegan "faux" bechamel sauce.Â
Pilafi Pligouri (pourgouri) - Bulgur wheat pilaf with Leftovers
A very easy, healthy and nutricious main dish made with bulgur wheat and leftover meat.
Festive Rice Pilaf with MushroomsÂ
This Easy Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms is perfect for a festive dinner as it is tender, fluffy, and flavorful. It's the perfect side dish to accompany any meal, anytime.
Gemista (Stuffed Tomatoes) and a Well Balanced 3 Course Meal
Gemista (pronounced as ye-mi-STA), are Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers filled with rice and herbs, baked in a tomato sauce.  Between the gaps of the vegetables we add potatoes which absorb all the wonderful flavours of the vegetables. As potatoes need more time to bake, we must cut them into thin wedges about twice the size of potato chips.
Seafood
Htapodi (or moschious) me Makaronaki kofto (Octopus in tomato sauce with pasta)
In Greek, htapodi is octopus and makaronaki kofto is a small pasta, like ditali. It is cooked in a tomato sauce and then in the sauce we cook the pasta.   It is a Lenten recipe, so during Lent no cheese is added on top.
Seafood
Octopus (Htapodi) with Mushrooms and Homemade Hilopites
Everyone who's ever eaten Greek food, knows about grilled octopus. However, at home, we prepare it in many ways and here is one where the octopus is cooked in its juices.
Octopus Salad (Htapodi Salata)
One of my favorite dishes in the whole world is Greek style octopus salad, or “htapodi salataâ€, which combined with boiled potatoes, green onion, parsley and extra virgin olive oil is fabulous served as a side or main dish.
Octopus Risotto
Octopus Risotto is a delicious and healthy dish, which is perfect not only for those fasting during Orthodox Lent but for our everyday meal.
Kalamaria or Thrapsala Tiganita or Gemista (Fried or Stuffed Kalamari)
Kalamaria (pr. kah-lah-MAHR-ghia), is a very popular dish in Greece and Cyprus, especially during Lent when seafood is allowed to be eaten.
Three Recipes with Thrapsala (Shortfin Squid)
Thrapsala (Illex coindetti or shortfin squid) are of the same family as calamari but much more cheaper, at least here in Greece, but equally delicious.
Other relevant recipes:
Fakhes Soupa (Greek lentils soup)
Healthy Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Fakhes Moudjentra (Lentils with Rice)
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
Simona
Friday 2nd of May 2014
Very nice. I love lentils too. And I like all the flavors in the dish you made.
Angie (
Friday 25th of April 2014
This looks so comforting and delicious, Ivy.
Carole from Carole's Chatter
Friday 25th of April 2014
Hi - lovely lentil dish. Hope you add it to the Food on friday: Lentils collection. Cheers
Rosa
Thursday 24th of April 2014
Scrumptious! I'd love to taste this dish.
Cheers,
Rosa