This post was made in collaboration with For The Chef. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Well and Full!
Do any of you watch Iron Chef America (otherwise known as the greatest show ever created)? If you’re a loyal watcher like me, you’ll know that in every episode, there is at least one component of one dish simmering / sautéing / roasting in a dutch oven. And I always wondered why they used a dutch oven instead of just a regular pot. But then I learned that dutch ovens cook food much more evenly than thin-bottomed pots and pans, and have the added feature of being oven-friendly.
I’m convinced that professional chefs have this sort of sixth sense when decided whether to cook with a dutch oven or a regular pot, and I certainly won’t pretend I have it. But when I was cooking with this dutch oven, it made me think of the history behind such a vessel. The American Colonists cooked with original cast-iron dutch ovens in their own kitchens, adopted from the practices of the Dutch. This is truly how people used to cook! To me, it’s amazing that this tradition has carried on for so long, despite our modern advances in Teflon and non-stick pots. It’s really a beautiful thing, and why I love culinary history so much.
Now, getting into logistics here – we can probably all agree that dutch ovens are awesome, but they can range up to $300 for a name-brand option. So when For The Chef told me about their dutch oven they sell for 45.99, I was admittedly skeptical at first. But when it came in the mail, I was first surprised at how heavy it was – 100% cast iron, covered in a layer of porcelain enamel. This dutch oven is the real deal! I also loved how the stunning blue color added a pop of vibrancy to my kitchen. The dutch oven comes in red too, but blue will always be my favorite. (And to be clear, For The Chef is not paying me to say any of this – they sent me the dutch oven to review, but I’m genuinely this excited about their awesome product!)
So if you’re looking for a high quality, professional chef grade dutch oven, look no further. For The Chef’s dutch oven is perfect for soups, stews, roasts, even breads! You can check out the blue version here (which is what I have), and the red version here. Happy cooking!
Moroccan Lentil Stew
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion diced
- Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1 15 oz Can Fire-Roasted Tomatoes diced
- 1 1/2 Cups Cooked Chickpeas
- 1 Cup Red Lentils
- Juice 1/2 Lemon
- 4 Cups Vegetable Stock
- 1 Tsp Cumin
- 1 Tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Tsp Coriander
- 1/4 Tsp Allspice
- 1/8 Tsp Cayenne
- Pinch Cinnamon
Instructions
- Bring a dutch oven or large pot to medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Add in the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until softened slightly.
- Then, add in the minced garlic and cook for another minute or until fragrant.
- Add in the contents of one can of diced fire-roasted tomatoes and cook for another minute or so.
- Then, add in the cooked chickpeas, red lentils, lemon juice, vegetable stock, and spices and simmer for 30 minutes, or until lentils are fully cooked.
- When done, serve in bowls with fresh cracked black pepper.
- Enjoy!
P.S.
Thank you everyone for your kind comments and well-wishes on my last post. You all are AWESOME!! :)
P.P.S.
If you make this recipe and post it on Instagram, be sure to tag me @wellandfull and #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your takes on my recipes :)
18 Comments
Meredith | Earth & Oven
April 19, 2017 at 10:06 amThose blue beauties have my name on it- and much less of an investment. I can almost taste the gorgeous flavours of that stew Sarah- yum!
Sarah
April 19, 2017 at 8:48 pmThanks Meredith!! :)
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
April 19, 2017 at 6:10 pmSo happy to see you back after all you’ve been through lately… you are resilient my dear! This stew!! I’ve been making a similar version for years and I absolutely love your version. Perfect for a cozy night in. And that blue Dutch is so pretty on your stove. My Dutch oven will go with me to my grave! It has a very special place on top of my stove for quick and easy access!
Sarah
April 19, 2017 at 8:49 pmThank you so much for your kind words Traci :) And I know this dutch oven will have a lasting place in my kitchen as well!
MEGAN
April 20, 2017 at 1:28 amWe used to have the red one and we loved it so much! Dutch oven cooking is amazing once you get the hang of it. I love how we can start things on the stove to brown and then transfer to the oven to slow cook or braise – it really lets you build all the flavors!
This recipe looks amazing, BTW. We’ve been looking for great “pantry meals” lately and I think this one really fits the bill. Looking forward to trying it out!
Sarah
April 20, 2017 at 4:15 pmI completely agree with everything you said about dutch oven cooking – it’s amazing!! And I hope you like the recipe!! :) Hugs, Megan!
Katrina
April 20, 2017 at 11:15 pmSuch a wholesome meal! Gotta love a big, spiced pot of lentils!
Sarah
April 22, 2017 at 6:46 pmSo good!! :D
Anna
April 26, 2017 at 6:44 amOh this stew looks delicious Sarah! I’ve never used Dutch oven (I do not owe one as I always found them to be so expensive, like you said), but sounds like you found a bargain there and I may check it out… :)
Gorgeous pics, as always! xxx
Sarah
April 27, 2017 at 3:41 pmThanks so much Anna! :)
Cara
April 30, 2017 at 8:46 pmI loved the info on the dutch oven, very informative! Per usual the recipe is awesome and your photos are beautiful :)
Sarah
May 1, 2017 at 7:39 pmThank you so much for your kind words, Cara :)
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry
May 2, 2017 at 1:33 pmMy dutch oven is my most used cookware by far! I bought as a present to myself after I landed my first job back in high school and almost nine years later it is still a workhorse.
Sarah
May 2, 2017 at 7:37 pmIt’s such a versatile kitchen vessel, I love it!! :)
Carlos At Spoonabilities
May 6, 2017 at 8:03 amI love Moroccan food, and this lentils stew look so tasty
Sarah
May 6, 2017 at 12:39 pmThanks Carlos!! :)
Lauren @ Lauren Caris Cooks
July 2, 2017 at 4:18 pmJust made this for dinner tonight and IT WAS AWESOME Sarah!! Thanks so much for an amazing recipe. Will 100% be making this again :D
Sarah
August 22, 2017 at 2:00 pmI’m so glad you liked it, Lauren!! :D