I don’t even know how to start talking about this dish because I’m not sure I can capture all of the deliciousness that is happening in this pot. But I’ll try and do my best. A couple days ago, during my stroll through my local grocery store I came across these black Beluga lentils and, well you know me, I had to buy them and had to come up with a recipe for them immediately. I just knew I wanted a delicious stew like dish with chicken drumsticks and fire roasted tomatoes. If you don’t cook much with lentils, they come in different colors, red, green, yellow and black.
What Are Beluga Lentils?
Black Beluga lentils are said to resemble Beluga caviar because they tend to glisten when they are cooked. They’re typically grown in the cooler parts of Canada or the US. But black or any other color they taste pretty much the same, so if you cannot find Beluga lentils, any lentils you have, you can use them in this dish.
What’s So Great About Lentils?
Lentils are a complex little carb that are chock full of fiber, magnesium, and folate. If you’re unfamiliar with these little morsels then allow me to introduce the two of you. They are a great addition to soups, stews, and rice dishes.
Ingredients
Olive oil – We want a nice mild tasting oil to brown our ingredients in. Chicken – Drumsticks with the skin on. Feel free to use chicken breast or thighs if you’d prefer. Spices – Red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and seasoning salt. Veggies – Leeks and zucchini, both sliced up nice and thin. Garlic – Use as much or little as you like. Lentils – I used black beluga lentils today but any color will do! Herbs – Fresh thyme. If dried is all you have on hand just keep in mind that 1 tablespoon fresh equals 1 teaspoon dried. Wine – Sauvignon blanc is what I used today because I wanted something a bit drier with lots of flavor. Broth – Low sodium chicken broth so that we can control the salt content of our dish. Tomatoes – 1 entire can of fire roasted tomatoes. Seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste. Optional – I like to add sriracha to this dish to introduce a bit of heat!
Can I Use Chicken Breast?
You definitely can use either chicken breast or chicken thighs for this recipe, just keep in mind that switching up the protein from a bone in cut to a boneless piece will alter the cooking time. Just keep an eye on your dish to prevent any burning!
How To Make Chicken Drumsticks with Beluga Lentils
Do I Have To Use Chicken?
You don’t have to use chicken if you have another protein you’d like to use up instead! I think this recipe goes really nicely with some stewing beef instead.
Don’t Want To Use Wine?
You don’t have to use wine if you’d prefer not to! Chicken broth will substitute 1 for 1 just as easily.
What Else Can I Use In This One Pot Meal?
Another great thing about this recipe, besides it being one pot and delicious, is the fact that it’s quite versatile. Although I give you a basic recipe here, feel free to add what you’d like to bulk it up a bit!
VEGGIES
Spinach Broccoli Asparagus Peas Mushrooms
STARCHES
You don’t just have just use lentils, you can use some other starches if you’d like!
Rice, long grain like Basmati to prevent stickiness Couscous Orzo (cooks way faster than lentils)
Pressure Cooker Option
You can cook this in an Instant Pot on high pressure for 15 minutes. You can brown your chicken and saute your veggies before hand right in the pressure cooker as well, talk about a one pot meal!
Storing Leftovers
FRIDGE
FREEZER
More Must Try One Pot Recipes:
Spanish Chicken and Rice Spicy Pork Ragu with Orzo Hamburger Helper Lasagna Greek Chicken Orzo One Pot Cheesy Taco Orzo Chicken Florentine Gnocchi Chicken Piccata Pasta Cheesy Chicken Pasta
