Syrian Lentils & Pasta with Sumach Recipe

Ingredients

1 onion
2 garlic cloves
A handful of flat leaf parsley
A handful of coriander
200g gnochetti pasta
Sea salt
1½ tbsp olive oil
1 vegetable stock cube
600ml boiling water
1 tbsp tamarind paste
400g tin of green lentils
2 tsp sumach
1 tsp ground cumin
1 lemon
Freshly ground pepper
50g sweet salad mix

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Method

1. Peel and finely chop the onion. Peel and grate or crush the garlic. Separate the parsley and coriander leaves from their stalks and set the leaves to one side. Finely chop the stalks.

2. Put a deep, heavy-based casserole dish or frying pan on a medium heat and tip in the gnocchetti. Dry fry, stirring regularly, for 2-3 mins till the pasta has picked up a little colour. Tip the pasta out into a bowl and set aside.

3. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan and scrape in the onion, garlic and chopped herb stalks. Season with a little salt. Fry, stirring often, for 5 mins till the onion starts to look glossy and has picked up a little colour.

4. While the onion fries, crumble the stock cube into a heatproof jug and add 1 tbsp of the tamarind paste. Pour in 600ml boiling water and stir to mix.

5. Drain the lentils and stir them, along with the gnocchetti, into the pan. Add 2 tsp sumach and 1 tsp ground cumin. Pour in the vegetable stock and stir to mix.

6. Cover the pan and bring to the boil, then turn the heat right down and gently simmer for 10 mins till the pasta is tender and has absorbed the stock.

7. While the pasta and lentils cook, finely grate the zest from the lemon and set aside. Juice half the lemon into a mixing bowl and whisk in ½ tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to make a dressing. Set aside.

8. Finely chop the coriander and parsley leaves. When the pasta is tender and has absorbed the stock, squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir in half the chopped herbs. Taste and add more salt or pepper if you think it needs it.

9. Spoon the pasta and lentils into a couple of warm bowls and top with the remaining chopped herbs. Toss the salad leaves with the dressing and serve on the side.