Red-Braised Five-Spice Lentils

• 95 g dry red lentils, rinsed — Dry red lentils
• 70 g yellow onion, diced — Raw yellow onion
• 90 g carrots, diced — Raw carrots
• 100 g white mushrooms, sliced — Raw white mushrooms
• 2 g Chinese five-spice — Chinese five-spice powder
• 12 g reduced-sodium soy sauce — Reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 6 g ginger, grated — Fresh ginger root
• 4 g toasted sesame oil — Toasted sesame oil
• 150 g no-salt-added canned tomatoes — No-salt-added canned tomatoes
• 6 g avocado oil — Avocado oil

Method

1. 1Load the slow cookerAdd the measured dry red lentils, yellow onion, carrots, white mushrooms, Chinese five-spice, reduced-sodium soy sauce, ginger, toasted sesame oil, no-salt-added canned tomatoes and avocado oil and 420 g water to a clean 2-quart slow cooker.Look for: The ingredients are fully prepared and ready for the next action.
2. 2Stir for 30 secondsStir for 30 seconds until the Chinese five-spice, reduced-sodium soy sauce, ginger and toasted sesame oil mixture is evenly dispersed.1 minLook for: The dry red lentils, onion, carrots, and mushrooms are submerged, and the cooking liquid is uniform.Safety: Rinse the dry red lentils, wash the yellow onion, carrots and white mushrooms, and use an undamaged insert.
3. 3Slow-cookCover and cook on high for 3 hours 30 minutes, stirring once after 2 hours if convenient.210 minLook for: This cooking stage is complete and the food is ready for the next action.Safety: Keep the lid closed except for the optional stir and temperature check; verify 165°F before serving.
4. 4Continue slow-cookVerify the center reaches 165°F; if it does not, cover and continue on high in 10-minute increments.165°FLook for: The center reaches 165°F, no firm center remains in the dry red lentils, and the yellow onion, carrots and white mushrooms yield easily to a spoon.
5. 5Thicken and finishStir vigorously for 45 seconds until the ingredients are evenly combined.45 secLook for: The mixture is even and ready for the next action, with no dry pockets.
6. 6Continue thicken and finishIf loose, cook uncovered on high for 15 minutes, then switch off and rest uncovered 10 minutes.24 min 15 secLook for: The stew coats a spoon and retains visible pieces of yellow onion, carrots and white mushrooms.Safety: The stew is very hot; stir away from your body.
7. 7Prepare the serving areaSet out the serving bowl, plate, jar, or container named in the method, and place every prepared component within reach before assembling.Look for: The serving dish and every prepared component are within reach.
8. 8ServeStir once more and transfer the complete serving to a bowl.30 secLook for: The stew is cohesive, aromatic, and no watery layer remains.Safety: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.