Spicy Tofurky sausages make a bold statement in this easy lentil stew. If you can find beluga lentils, use them—they give this dish extra visual appeal.

　　

Ingredients

4 to 6 servings

　　2 tablespoons olive oil

　　1 medium onion, finely chopped

　　3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced

　　2 medium celery stalks, thinly sliced

　　One 14-ounce package Tofurky sausage, sliced 1/4 inch thick

　　Two 15- to 16-ounce cans lentils, drained lightly but not rinsed

　　1 cup diced tomatoes

　　1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

　　1/4 cup minced fresh parsley, or more to taste

　　Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

　　

Step 1

Heat the oil in a wide skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent.

　　

Step 2

Add the garlic, celery, and sausage. Sauté, stirring frequently, until all the ingredients are golden and touched here and there with browned spots.

　　

Step 3

Add the lentils, tomatoes, and thyme. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle simmer. Return to medium-low heat and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the tomatoes have just softened.

　　

Step 4

Stir in the parsley, season with salt and pepper, and serve at once in shallow bowls.

　　

Menu Suggestions

Step 5

Make a hearty meal with an easy potato dish like Fingerling Fries (page 194) or Sautéed Paprika Potatoes (page 207). Add an interesting salad chosen from the mixed greens salad suggestions under Recipe Not Required (page 192).

　　

Step 6

If time allows, cook some brown rice and serve this dish over it on a plate rather than in shallow bowls. If you like the idea of serving this with a grain but don’t want to wait for brown rice, couscous works well, too. Maple-Roasted Baby Carrots (page 205) made with the stovetop option makes a good side dish. Add a simple green salad to the meal.

　　

Step 7

If you want a meal with no additional recipes to follow, all you need are microwaved sweet potatoes and a green salad.

　　

nutrition information

Step 8

Calories: 490

　　

Step 9

Total Fat: 19g

　　

Step 10

Protein: 40g

　　

Step 11

Carbohydrates: 45g

　　

Step 12

Fiber: 24g

　　

Step 13

Sodium: 925mg

　　Reprinted with permission from Vegan Express: Featuring 160 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, and Healthy Meals by Nava Atlas. Copyright © 2008 by Nava Atlas. Excerpted by permission of Broadway, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Nava Atlas is the author of nine cookbooks, including The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet, and Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband and two teenage sons (all vegans).