Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes Recipe | Humble Home Cooking (2024)

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Have you ever tried Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes? It doesn’t get any better than this: green lentils,tomatoes, red onion, green onions, carrot, celery root, garlic, potatoes, olive oil, parsley. All the simplicity and goodness combined in this Greek-style Icarian longevity stew. A true feast for both your health and taste. This delicious stew is filling, it will warm both the body and the soul and it’s a piece of cake to make. Thanks to this recipe, boring green lentils instantly become a super star on your table! This is one of those recipes that will make even the most passionate meat lovers admit that plant-based cuisine can also be delicious.

Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes Recipe | Humble Home Cooking (1)

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Green lentils have a very delicate flavor and do not crumble after cooking but remain whole. These versatile legumes are great for soups, stews, pasta sauces, salads, sandwich spreads or used as dumpling stuffing.

In Greece the classic green lentil soup, called ‘Fakes’ is served at least once a week in every traditional household, and the dish is especially popular during the Orthodox lent period.

Inspired by this old-time Greek classic recipe, we turned the plain ‘Fakes’ soup into a thick, hearty stew loaded with tons of healthy ingredients. This way the ultimate Ikarian diet Lentil Stew was born in our humble kitchenette!

Lentils, like other legumes, have unique health-promoting properties, because they are a treasury of many nutrients. Lentils are a source of easily digestible protein, therefore can be a great and accessible alternative to animal-based proteins. These tiny legumes are rich in potassium- known for lowering blood pressure, and folic acid necessary for pregnant women. In addition, lentilscontain a considerable amount of iron.

It is a common practice to consume lentils with potatoes, rice or other cereals- and there’s a good reason for it. This combination creates a good source of wholesome protein – which is better absorbed by the organism.

What Makes This Recipe Worth Trying Today:

  • Loaded with all the goodness you can possibly imagine in a stew: green lentils,tomatoes, red onion, green onions, carrot, celery root, garlic, potatoes, olive oil, parsley.
  • Super easy and effortless to make-we absolutely love those quick one-pot dishes
  • Ideal for busy people and total beginners
  • Really tasty and uncomplicated way to make a filling, satisfying, peasant-style, rustic dinner
  • With this dish it’s guaranteed you will not be missing the meat!
  • Rich in folate and magnesium, which are of great importance for heart health
Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes Recipe | Humble Home Cooking (2)

What Will You Need:

  • 200grgreen lentils
  • 2tomatoes peeled and diced
  • 1red onion peeled and cut in halves
  • 2sprigs of green onions chopped
  • 1carrot diced or cut in slices
  • 2tbsp celery root diced
  • 1clove of garlic diced
  • 2potatoes diced
  • 3tbspolive oil
  • 2tbsp parsley chopped
  • 1literof water
  • 2tspof salt

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How to Make BLUE ZONES Greek Lentil Stew Fakes:

1.Pour 3 tbsp olive oil into a deep cooking pot

2.Sauté 2 peeled and diced tomatoes for 1 minute over high heat

3.Add 2 diced sprigs of green onions and sauté for 1 more minute while stirring constantly

4.Add 1 carrot diced or cut into slices

5.Add 2 tbsp of diced celery root

6.Sauté for 30 seconds

7.Add 200 gr green lentils

8.Add 1 liter of water

9.Add 1 red onion cut in halves

10.Add 1,5 tbsp chopped parsley

11.Add 1 diced clove of garlic

12.Add 2 peeled and diced potatoes

13.Season with 2 tsp of salt

14.Bring to boil and switch the heat to low

15.Cover the pan and cook for about 60 minutes

16.Serve and sprinkle with the remaining chopped parsley

17.Sprinkle each serving with a bit of fresh olive oil

Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes Recipe | Humble Home Cooking (4)

Serving and Storing

And VOILA! Your flavorful, Greek lentil stew- fakes is ready!

Everyone knows that there is nothing like a hearty stew served with a slice of fresh bread. But if you want to increase your protein absorption, go for some extra potatoes (already included in the stew), cooked rice, or any other cereal of your preference.

It can be refrigerated for 2-3 days and stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Other Easy & Delicious Recipes You Might Like:

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Blue Zones Salad- The Ultimate Cabbage Salad Recipe

Blue Zones Breakfast-Healthy Sweet Breakfast Recipe

Greek Bread with Oregano Olive Oil and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Anchovy Pasta from Greece | Easy Leftover Pasta Recipe

Greek- Style Oven Baked Anchovies| Gavros Ladorigani

Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes Recipe | Humble Home Cooking (5)

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5 from 1 vote

Lentil & Potato Stew the Ikarian Way

Easy and simple blue zone longevity green lentils & potato stew. Delicious hearty one-pot meal you can make today!

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine greek cuisine, Mediterranean

Keyword authentic greek food, blue zone recipes, blue zones recipes, greek stew, healthy dinner, healthy food, healthy lifestyle, lentils recipe, lentils stew, vegan, vegetarian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 2 people

Calories 258kcal

Cost $7

Ingredients

  • 200 gr green lentils
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 red onion
  • 2 sprigs of green onions
  • 1 carrot
  • 2 tbsp diced celery root
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 potatoes
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 liter of water
  • 2 tsp of salt

Instructions

  • Pour 3 tbsp olive oil into a deep cooking pot

  • Sauté 2 peeled and diced tomatoes for 1 minute over high heat

  • Add 2 diced sprigs of green onions and sauté for 1 more minute while stirring constantly

  • Add 1 carrot diced or cut into slices

  • Add 2 tbsp of diced celery root

  • Sauté for 30 seconds

  • Add 200 gr green lentils

  • Add 1 liter of water

  • Add 1 red onion cut in halves

  • Add 1,5 tbsp chopped parsley

  • Add 1 diced clove of garlic

  • Add 2 peeled and diced potatoes

  • Season with 2 tsp of salt

  • Bring to boil and switch the heat to low

  • Cover the pan and cook for about 60 minutes

  • Serve and sprinkle with the remaining chopped parsley

  • Sprinkle each serving with a bit of fresh olive oil

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal

Greek Lentil Stew- Fakes Recipe | Humble Home Cooking (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken lentil stew? ›

This lentil soup should be fairly thick, but if you prefer a thicker soup, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl.

Why is my lentil soup not thick? ›

Cook It Longer

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

How to boil fakes? ›

Make the Fakes
  1. Sort through the lentils and discard any stones or the like.
  2. Add the sorted lentils to a 3 litre pot. Add the onions, garlic, salt, pepper and water to the pot. ...
  3. Place the pot on the cooktop over a medium – high heat. Place the lid ajar on the pot and bring the soup to a rolling boil.

Should I use flour or cornstarch to thicken stew? ›

Use cornstarch to thicken your stew towards the end of cooking, as cooking it for a long time can break down the starch and your stew will thin out again.

Do I need to soak lentils for stew? ›

The other good news: Lentils don't need to soak as beans do (though you do need to sort and rinse them before cooking). Different types of lentils cook in different amounts of time.

Can you overcook lentil soup? ›

Yes, you can overcook lentils; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

What is the best thickener for soup? ›

The 15 Best Ingredients To Thicken Homemade Soup
  • Add thickness with a flour slurry. ...
  • Cornstarch should be your thickener of choice. ...
  • Red beans or lentils can thicken a pureed soup. ...
  • Bring the magic of risotto with arborio rice. ...
  • Use pasta starch in a couple of different ways. ...
  • Thicken soup with egg yolks and a bit of technique.
Jun 16, 2023

How to thicken stew without flour or cornstarch? ›

pureeing cooked vegetables and stock — this is the method I use most often. I like to take a cup of vegetables and stock (leave any pieces of animal protein in the pot) from the cooked soup and blend them in a blender or mini food processor and then add it back to the pot.

Why did my lentil soup turn black? ›

the color change you've observed is from oxidation. If you want to prevent this, lay some plastic wrap over the surface of your lentils to prevent air from getting to them, or add some acid, like lime juice, to the recipe.

Why does my lentil soup smell sour? ›

Bottom line: when soup turns "sour" unexpectedly, it's probably time to throw it out. Thanks! The consensus is that it was bacteria and not oxidation like I thought.

What is the white foam on lentil soup? ›

The outer layer of the lentil contains saponins, which are natural compounds that can create foam when agitated. When the lentils are split or hulled, the outer layer is removed, which can cause the saponins to be released more easily and contribute to foam formation.

Why do you put vinegar in bean soup? ›

Wait until the beans are tender but not quite done to add a splash of apple cider vinegar and a couple teaspoons of salt to the pot. The apple cider vinegar breaks down indigestible sugars to help digestion and also brightens the flavor of the beans without the need for excess salt.

How long do lentils take to cook? ›

Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes. For split red lentils, cook time is typically only about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to season with salt after cooking – if salt is added before, the lentils will become tough.

How much protein is in a bowl of fakes? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
357Calories
16gFat
40gCarbs
16gProtein
Feb 21, 2023

How do you thicken watery lentils? ›

You can thicken lentils by simmering it a little more or adding a table spoon of cream ( malai) into it…. You gotta thicken it during the cooking process, not after. Add natural yogurt a little at a time. Add corn flour-water slurry at end stage.

How can I thicken a watery stew? ›

There are several options you can use.
  1. Cornstarch slurry (cornstarch dissolved in water) will do it, but a little goes a long way, so don't overdo it.
  2. Breadcrumbs can work wonders. ...
  3. Starting with a roux helps, but the old shortcut for that is to take a knob of butter and roll it in flour.
Aug 1, 2022

How do you make bean stew thicker? ›

The white beans will break down and thicken the soup as it simmers, but if you'd like an even thicker stew, dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in water and add to the broth towards the end of the cooking process.

Is lentil soup meant to be thick? ›

Dehulled yellow and red lentils disintegrate in cooking, making a thick soup.

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