Plant-based powerhouse plate high in protein and fiber.
Ingredients
1 cup
Green lentils, raw
(rinsed and drained)
3 cup
Water, filtered
1 cup
Millet, dry
(rinsed and drained)
2 cup
Water, filtered
(or vegetable broth)
2 medium
Zucchini
(sliced)
1 tbsp
Extra virgin olive oil
1 pinch
Salt and pepper
2 cup
Spinach
1/2 avocado(s)
Avocado
(for the pesto)
1 cup
Basil, fresh
(for the pesto)
3 tbsp
Extra virgin olive oil
(for the pesto)
1 clove(s)
Garlic
(for the pesto)
2 tbsp
Lemon juice
(for the pesto)
1/4 tsp
Sea Salt
(to taste; for the pesto)
1/4 cup
Water
(for the pesto)
Instructions
Add lentils to a medium pot along with water. Bring to a low boil and then reduce heat to low-medium and simmer uncovered for 25-40 minutes. When lentils are tender, remove from heat and drain water if necessary.
At the same time, cook the millet. Rinse and drain in a fine-mesh sieve and add to a medium pot. Add water (or vegetable broth), bring to a low boil, and reduce heat to low-medium. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the water has been absorbed. Remove from heat and leave the lid on to steam for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Meanwhile, sauté the zucchini in a skillet with a bit of oil, salt, and pepper for about 5-10 minutes, or until much of the water has cooked off. Add a few handfuls of spinach into the skillet and cook until wilted.
To prepare the pesto, add avocado, basil, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and water into a food processor and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the bowl as necessary. Adjust salt to taste.
To assemble, toss the millet and lentils together in one pot and season with salt and pepper. Portion onto plates followed by the zucchini and spinach mixture. Spoon on a generous amount of pesto and serve!
Notes:
Soaking
You don't have to pre-soak lentils before cooking, however, lentils like beans have some anti-nutrients that are greatly reduced when cooked. Soaking further reduces those anti-nutrients and also makes lentils easier to digest. You can choose to pre-soak lentils overnight for this purpose.
