Sweet and Sour Lentils Baked with Honey, Vinegar and Leeks

4.50 from 2 votes
These sweet and sour baked lentils with honey, vinegar, and leeks is a Greek recipe that I adapted from a dish called Minoan Lentils, which was originally published in the My Greek Table book. It’s so nutritious, easy and delicious, that it stands as a kind of poster child for great Mediterranean diet bean recipes. Lentils are, after all, one of the oldest cultivated legumes in the Eastern Mediterranean and something we Greeks eat about once a week in every season of the year. The extra virgin Greek olive oil, pine honey, garlic, leek, bay leaf, herbs and spices lend an extraordinary flavor to the humble lentil. Enjoy!
4.50 from 2 votes

Sweet and Sour Lentils Baked with Honey, Vinegar and Leeks

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Servings 4
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 large leek trimmed and chopped
  • 2 teaspoons chopped garlic or garlic paste
  • ½ cup extra virgin Greek olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups small green or brown lentils
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds ground in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 1 heaping tablespoon Greek pine or thyme honey or more to taste
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 4 – 6 fresh thyme sprigs
  • Sea salt to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F / 160C.
  • Chop the leek. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the leek until wilted. Stir in the garlic.
  • Add the lentils and toss to coat in the olive oil. Pour in enough water to cover by about a half inch, add a tablespoon or two of olive oil, the bay leaves, coriander, cumin, honey and vinegar. Season to taste with salt. Stir everything together to combine well and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about ten minutes.
  • Transfer the lentils to a glass, ceramic or clay baking dish. Add enough water to cover by about ¾ of an inch. Add the thyme sprigs and 2 – 3 more tablespoons of olive oil. Bake the lentils uncovered for about 45 minutes, until they expand and soften and all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove and serve.

❤️ Enjoyed this Recipe?

Share this recipe on Facebook or Instagram!

Mention @dianekohcilas & tag #dianekochilas!

Diane’s Greek Single-origin Artisanal Foods

Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Travel Cook Eat & Live with Diane

Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

Latest Recipes

More

Lemon Potato Smashers

Lemon Potato Smashers

Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

Lentil Sweet Potato Soup

Lentil–Sweet Potato Soup with Spinach and Sage

Broccoli cauliflower salad

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Feta and Lemon-Dill Dressing

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Longevity Recipes

More

Featured In

My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo

D|K