Creole Stewed Lentils & Caramelized Plantains – Authentic Saint Lucia Recipe
Everyday Saint Lucian home comfort pairing clove-and-thyme simmered lentils with sweet plantains.
- Country of Origin
- 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia (Caribbean, Americas)
- Dietary Profile
- vegan
- Prep Time
- 15 min
- Cook Time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Signature Staples
- Brown or red lentils, Diced carrots and pumpkin, Fried ripe plantains, Thyme, Cloves
Ingredients for Creole Stewed Lentils & Caramelized Plantains (4 Servings)
- 1.25 lbs (or 2.5 cups) brown or red lentils, prepped into bite-sized pieces
- 1.5 cups diced carrots and pumpkin, washed and trimmed
- 1 cup fried ripe plantains
- 1 medium onion and 3 cloves garlic, finely minced with thyme
- 1.5 tbsp traditional Saint Lucia seasoning (cloves, garlic, tomato sofrito, coconut oil)
- 2.5 cups rich culinary stock or aromatic cooking liquid, plus 2 tbsp cooking oil
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
- Heat oil in a heavy Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat; brown brown or red lentils for 5 minutes.
- Add minced onion, garlic, thyme, and cloves, garlic, tomato sofrito, coconut oil, stirring for 2 minutes until deeply aromatic.
- Add diced carrots and pumpkin and pour in the braising liquid; bring to a lively simmer.
- Cover and braise over medium-low heat for 20–22 minutes until meltingly tender and the sauce is rich and glossy.
- Stir in fried ripe plantains right before serving warm.