One-Pot Chicken & Lentils

Ingredients

• Chicken Thighs — 3lb bone-in skin-on patted dry ($6.00)
• Olive Oil — 2 Tbsp for browning ($0.30)
• Yellow Onion — 1.5 medium thinly sliced ($0.75)
• Carrots — 3 medium unpeeled cut into thin rounds ($0.40)
• Salt and Pepper — 2 tsp to taste ($0.05)
• Tomato Paste — 3 Tbsp ($0.30)
• Cumin — 1.5 Tbsp ground ($0.20)
• Turmeric — 1.5 tsp ground ($0.10)
• Garlic — 4 cloves grated or minced ($0.20)
• Green Lentils — 1.5 cups dry rinsed ($1.50)
• Chicken Broth — 3 cups ($1.10)
• Water — 3 cups ($0.00)
• Lime — 1 whole halved ($0.50)
• Fresh Cilantro — 2 Tbsp chopped ($0.30)

Instructions

1. 11. Brown the Chicken - Pat the chicken thighs completely dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high. Brown the thighs skin-side down for 7-9 minutes until the skin is deeply golden then remove to a plate and set aside. The chicken will not be cooked through yet.
2. 22. Soften the Vegetables - Add the sliced onion and carrot rounds to the chicken fat left in the pot. Cook 3 minutes stirring until they begin to soften and pick up the browned bits from the bottom.
3. 33. Bloom the Spices - Add the tomato paste ground cumin turmeric and grated garlic directly to the vegetables. Stir constantly for about 1 minute until the paste darkens and the spices turn fragrant.
4. 44. Simmer - Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pot. Add the rinsed green lentils 3 cups water and 3 cups chicken broth. The liquid should submerge the lentils and most of the chicken. Bring to a boil and season with salt. Cover with the lid slightly ajar reduce to a simmer and cook 40-45 minutes stirring occasionally until the lentils are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
5. 55. Finish and Assemble - Remove and discard the chicken skin. Stir in half the lime juice and spoon sauce over the chicken. Taste and adjust with more lime juice or salt then finish with fresh cracked pepper. Divide among 6 containers and sprinkle each with chopped cilantro.