Korean BBQ-Inspired Lentils Recipe

Korean cuisine is known for its bold and vibrant flavors and Korean BBQ, a popular dining experience that involves cooking meats on a tabletop grill is a fun way to bring a group together and enjoy a plethora of tasty dishes. Although meat typically takes center stage, the collection of side dishes, called banchan in Korean, usually includes a variety of accouterments like pickled vegetables, spicy cucumber salad, seasoned spinach, and kimchi. Today we bring you a delicious lentils recipe inspired by Korean BBQ that ties in the complex Korean flavors with red lentils, transforming them into a mouthwatering dish. 

Recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe and says, "Lentils are a staple for me because they are a great source of plant-based protein and can be turned into a delicious meal. This recipe for Korean BBQ-inspired lentils is a great meal prep item and makes for a quick lunch or dinner." Maybe this recipe will inspire you to host your own Korean BBQ!

To make this recipe, we'll need an onion, garlic, scallions, and an Asian pear from the produce department. "The Asian pear is a key element here. If your local grocery store doesn't have any in stock, any Asian grocery store is sure to have them," Hahn explains. 

Then we'll need some dry goods like olive oil, sesame oil, red lentils, soy sauce, and ginger powder. "This dish is centered around red lentils which cook differently than the brown or green type, so it's not a good idea to substitute because the cooking time will differ," Hahn explains. If you want to serve your lentils with some rice, pick up the type you like.

To season our lentils, we're using some aromatics and an Asian pear to add sweetness. Go ahead and chop the onion, scallions, garlic, and the pear. If your pear is on the larger size, we'll only need about half of it. 

Once the pear is chopped add it to a blender with 1 tablespoon of water and blend it into a puree. Mix the puree with the soy sauce, ginger powder, and sesame oil. "If you want the lentils to be sweeter, you can add in 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar here," Hahn explains.

Now that everything is prepped, add the olive oil to a large frying pan and add the onion and garlic. Saute this for 3 minutes stirring the whole time. The aromatic smell should be filling your kitchen about now and you are minutes away from enjoying this fabulous lentil creation.

After the short sauté time, you can go ahead and add the lentils, 2 cups of water, and the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes or until the lentils are soft and most of the water is absorbed.

The lentils are ready to serve, and we can finish them off by topping them with chopped scallions which will add a fresh and crunchy element. They can be served alone or on a bed of rice. Hahn tells us the lentils will last well for up to 5 days in the fridge if kept in an airtight container. 

Whether you're thinking about hosting your own Korean BBQ and want to incorporate this recipe as a side dish, or you're adding this to your list of easy meal prep recipes, you'll love the simplicity and flavor of these red lentils!