Recipe #3: Леща (Lentils)

I’m not sure how Bulgarian they are, but леща (lentils) are an extremely popular dish. And given how cheap they are and how easy they are to make, I suspect I’ll be eating them frequently. There are many ways to prepare lentils, but this recipe (which comes out like a thick soup) is foolproof.

1 & ½ cups dry lentils
1 onion - diced
3 carrots – peeled and diced
1 bell pepper – seeded and diced
1 hot pepper – diced (omit if you dislike spicy foods)
1 tomato - diced
2 cloves garlic – diced
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
salt
pepper
cayenne pepper
herbs
flour

Wash lentils. Cover lentils in water and let sit for 1-2 hours. Drain and wash lentils. Put lentils in pot, cover in water, and bring to a boil. Add vegetables and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add oil. Add salt, pepper, cayenne, and herbs to taste. Add flour to thicken. Simmer 10-15 minutes. Enjoy.