Beef and Lentil Chili

I realize that I have been posting a lot of baked treats this month. My mother says it's the time of year for it so I guess it's okay. Lately, I've really been in the mood for apples, sweet potatoes, pears, cinnamon, cloves, ginger...

Anyway, before you all start thinking I'm serving my family muffins for dinner, here is an easy and delicious chili recipe for you to try.

Beans are typically the main ingredient that comes to mind when I think of making chili. The other night I was in the mood for a nice warm bowl of the stuff, but as luck would have it, I only had dried beans and not enough time to cook them up. I spotted a bag of lentils and thought they would make a perfect replacement.

Beef and Lentil Chili
by theUngourmet

Ingredients

1 lb of lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 tbsp oil
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 cup dry lentils, rinsed
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 10 oz can of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp dried basil
2tsp dried marjoram
2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
cracked pepper to taste

Garnish

sour cream
hot sauce

Brown the beef or turkey. Drain. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add the beef or turkey, lentils, tomatoes, broth, herbs, spices, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender.

Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.

This is a really wonderful change from regular chili. Serve it with some yummy corn muffins. You could also wrap this chili in a tortilla with some diced tomato and avocado if you felt like it.

This should serve six comfortably.

Have a lovely week!

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