Cheesy Roasted Lentil and Veggie Casserole

By Ann Fulton

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This wholesome dish has just enough cheese to make it decadent but enough plant-based protein and nutrient-rich vegetables provide a healthy-but-filling reset whenever your body needs it.

 

Depending on where a person calls home, the New Year may be ushered in with black-eyed peas, pickled herring, or pork and sauerkraut. But while the holiday meal might differ from region to region, the conversation everywhere will likely include at least a brief mention of losing weight or exercising more.

So why do we make New Year’s resolutions anyway? (Perhaps the better question is why we make resolutions when we tend not to keep them!)

I read recently that New Year’s resolutions can be traced back 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. For those who need a refresher as I did, my younger son informed me that the city of Babylon was located south of Baghdad in modern-day Iraq. In those days, resolutions were externally focused – usually made to the gods – but modern day resolutions trend towards self-improvement. Not surprisingly, losing weight and exercising more usually top the list.

Various polls offer a range of discouraging numbers, but we need only observe the drop in attendance at our local gyms after the initial January surge to know that good intentions can be really hard to keep.

Several years ago, a nutritionist friend of mine shared a piece of advice that I thought would be helpful as we wrestle with what, if anything, to change in the weeks and months ahead. It was the following quote from a book by Leo Babauta called The Power of Less:

“Research has shown that when people try to change a single behavior at a time, the likelihood that they’ll retain that habit for a year or more is better than 80 percent. When they try to tackle two behaviors at once, their chances of success are less than 35 percent. When they try for three behaviors or more, their success rate plummets to less than 5 percent.”

So while the desire for a fresh start is logical as we usher in a new year, it seems that less may truly be more. I also thought it might be fun to consider resolutions that aren’t tied into how we look but that may actually improve how we feel. Through an informal poll, I received a variety of answers–some serious, some funny–but all a refreshing change of pace from the typical resolutions.

  1. Read more books
  2. Don’t send a text to someone sitting in the next room…or the same room
  3. Separate colors from whites when doing laundry
  4. Recycle more
  5. Do a crossword puzzle every day
  6. Be on time
  7. Schedule more family dinners
  8. Buy a different vegetable every week—and eat it
  9. Don’t make any resolutions
  10. Find a reason to be grateful every day

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I first served this veggie-rich, meatless meal many years ago when I was craving a dietary detox after weeks of holiday indulging. I anticipated that it would bring protests from the troops, but it was greeted with positive reviews.

Soon after, a friend mentioned that she had never in her forty-plus years eaten a lentil. When she heard that my two boys liked this recipe, she figured it was time to try. Not only does she now make this wholesome dish regularly, she reported that it was her family’s pick for their final meal prior to a kitchen renovation project. 

Who would have guessed?

This wholesome dish has just enough cheese to make it decadent but enough plant-based protein and nutrient-rich vegetables to provide a healthy-but-filling reset whenever your body needs it.I love the vibrant colors in this all-in-one meal. Tomatoes and cheese are added near the end, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs – or even kale “crumbs” from when you chopped it – will add a little extra glamour to the finished dish.

This wholesome dish has just enough cheese to make it decadent but enough plant-based protein and nutrient-rich vegetables to provide a healthy-but-filling reset whenever your body needs it.Allowing most of the lentils to sink to the bottom of the baking dish when you transfer everything from the mixing bowl allows the lentils to bind with the egg mixture and become meaty and satisfying.

Cheesy Roasted Lentil and Veggie Casserole
I typically use grated cheddar, but Gruyere or an Italian blend are nice options, too. I was recently thinking that a combination of feta for flavor and mozzarella for gooeyness would also be delicious. To make the preparation super simple, cook the lentils up to a day or two in advance and refrigerate. I often chop the cauliflower and other vegetables ahead of time, too, and store in a plastic container or bag in the fridge.

Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 cup dry lentils, rinsed (I prefer brown lentils in this recipe)
  • 1 medium head (not more than 2 pounds) cauliflower, cored and chopped into bite-size florets
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, halved or quartered depending on size
  • 2 cups lightly packed kale leaves, chopped
  • 1 small onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves (or 1/4 teaspoon if using ground thyme)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste (I use about 3/4 and 1/4 teaspoon, respectively)
  • 1 large tomato, sliced and halved (or 1/2 – 3/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved)
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Bring approximately 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the lentils, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, give or take, or until the lentils are tender. (I like to keep just a little “bite” to them. Taste early, as some varieties will cook faster, and remove from the heat when the lentils are cooked to your liking.) Drain well. Tip: The lentils may be prepared in advance and refrigerated.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, and grease a 9×13 or similar 3-quart baking dish.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, thyme, salt and pepper.
  4. In a very large bowl, combine the lentils with all of the vegetables except for the tomato. Do not mix in the cheese either.
  5. Pour the egg mixture over the veggie mixture, and toss until evenly coated.
  6. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. I find it easiest to use my hands and allow most of the lentils to settle to the bottom. This way, they will bind with the egg mixture and form a tasty bottom layer.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the veggies are becoming tender but still crisp. Remove from the oven, top with the tomato, and sprinkle evenly with the cheese.
  8. Return to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the veggies are tender and the cheese is melted. All ovens vary but, in my oven, 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes yields vegetables that are lightly golden yet still crisp-tender.
Notes
  • *For more flavorful lentils, you may also wish to add 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to the cooking water once it comes to a boil. Most of this will be drained off, but it will add an extra level of seasoning to the dish.
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Comments

  1. Alice
    (3/5)

    Made this for our Christmas Eve vegetarian offering. There was not nearly enough egg for the lentils to “settle” into a bottom layer as the recipe says, so it ended up just being a mix of veggies with tomato and cheese on top. It looked pretty in the casserole due to the tomatoes/cheese, but it was quite brown on the plate. Everyone said they liked it, though no one was exactly raving. Everyone agreed it was a bit bland. I might try it again with broccoli instead of cauliflower, just for some color. And for my family, we might need to swap potatoes or something else for the mushrooms, which even my vegetarians aren’t fond of.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Hi Alice, I’m glad you tried this but am sorry it seemed somewhat bland. Some troubleshooting thoughts… The dish is certainly veggie forward and not meant to be frittata-like. That said, there should be enough egg to bind some, although not all, of the lentils. As I mention in the recipe, I use my hands to help the lentils to settle to the bottom. Some, however, will remain interspersed within the veggies. One last note is that sufficient seasoning can make all the difference when using such basic ingredients such as these. Again, I’m sorry this didn’t rate higher for you, and I appreciate your honest feedback.

      Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Hi John, You could substitute a variety of vegetables, but you may want to parcook/roast the ones that might not be fully cooked within the stated time. Eggplant and potatoes come to mind. You could use zucchini, but I’d salt it to release some of the liquid first. Otherwise, it could make the casserole watery. I hope this helps. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

      Reply