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5.0 from 12 votes

Beluga Lentil Caviar

Makes about 3 cups of lentils, and approximately 50 lentil-topped crackers (1 TB of lentils per cracker)

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 50 crackers
Calories: 34 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Beluga Lentil Salad:
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 leek, sliced
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 celery sticks, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 15 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 cup black beluga lentils, rinsed and sorted
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 bay leaves
For Serving:
  • 1 package buttery crackers (or sub vegan crackers)
  • cream cheese, to serve (or sub vegan cream cheese)
  • fresh dill, to serve (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large saucepan or wok, heat oil on medium until it begins to shimmer.
  2. Add leek, carrots, celery and salt, and sauté 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes. Increase heat to medium high, and add wine. Allow wine to cook down for 1-2 minutes, then lower heat to medium. Add tomatoes, and sauté 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add lentils, bay leaves, and 2 cups water. Bring mixture to a boil, and simmer about 40 minutes until most of the water has cooked down.
  4. When lentils are finished cooking, remove bay leaves.
  5. To serve: Smear crackers with cream cheese, and top with lentils and dill (optional) right before serving.

Notes

  • Serving Tips:
  • Recipe Variations:
  • Nutrition information is for 1 lentil-topped cracker, made with 1 TB of lentils per cracker.  Calories for cream cheese are an estimate.
  • These hors d'oeuvres WILL GET SOGGY if left to sit.  Add the lentils as you're serving.
  • Alternatively, arrange the crackers with cream cheese on a tray, and allow guests to scoop their own lentil salad on top.
  • Your 'faux caviar' will look a lot less like real caviar if your veggies are showing.  Make sure to finely dice your carrots and celery.
  • (Not Vegan): Add the rind from a wedge of Parmesan cheese into the lentils when you add the tomatoes.  By the time the lentils finish cooking, it will have melted into the lentil dish. 
  • Skip the tomatoes, and add 1 TB Dijon mustard, ¼ cup olive oil, and 2 TB red wine vinegar.
  •  

Nutrition Information

Calories 34kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 4g (1%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Potassium 20mg (1%) Vitamin A 445IU (9%) Vitamin C 0.6mg (1%) Calcium 10mg (1%) Iron 0.5mg (3%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 50crackers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 34

% Daily Value*

Calories 34kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Potassium 20mg 0%
Vitamin A 445IU 9%
Vitamin C 0.6mg 1%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0.5mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.