Festive Celeriac Koshari Recipes

KOSHARI (EGYPTIAN RICE, LENTILS AND MACARONI WITH SPICY TOMATO CHILE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and fry it for 2 minutes, then add the vegetable stock. Bring it to a boil, decrease the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
• Rinse the lentils under cold water and add them to another medium saucepan with 2 cups of water. Add the garlic, cumin and bay leaf and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Once cooked, add the salt and stir to combine. Strain any excess liquid if necessary.Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.Note: Prepare the rice, macaroni and lentils while the sauce is simmering and leave them covered in the pots to keep warm.
• To make sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until golden brown. Add the tomato sauce, baharat, salt and pepper to taste, chile flakes (if using) and red wine vinegar. Bring it to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• To make the crispy onions, heat the oil in a skillet. Add the onions and fry until dark brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain and cool.
• Add the rice, lentils and macaroni to a large bowl and toss to combine (or simply scoop out desired amounts of each onto the plates). Sprinkle a little baharat over each portion and serve topped with some of the spicy tomato sauce. Top with garbanzo beans, the crispy onions and another sprinkle of baharat. Serve warm.

KOSHARI RECIPE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the onion rings with salt, then toss them in the flour to coat. Shake off excess flour.
• In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat, cook the onion rings, stirring often, until they turn a nice caramelized brown. Onions must be crispy, but not burned (15-20 minutes).
• In a saucepan, heat 1 tbsp cooking oil. Add the grated onion, cook on medium-high until the onion turns a translucent gold (do not brown). Now add the garlic, coriander, and red pepper flakes, if using, and saute briefly until fragrant (30-45 seconds more).
• Stir in tomato sauce and pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens (15 minutes or so).
• Stir in the distilled white vinegar, and turn the heat to low. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Cook the lentils. Bring lentils and 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot or saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook until lentils are just tender (15-17 minutes). Drain from water and season with a little salt. (Note: when the lentils are ready, they should not be fully cooked. They should be only par-cooked and still have a bite to them as they need to finish cooking with the rice).
• Now, for the rice. Drain the rice from its soaking water. Combine the par-cooked lentils and the rice in the saucepan over medium-high heat with 1 tbsp cooking oil, salt, pepper, and coriander. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add warm water to cover the rice and lentil mixture by about 1 1/2 inches (you'll probably use about 3 cups of water here). Bring to a boil; the water should reduce a bit. Now cover and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and both the rice and lentils are well cooked through (about 20 minutes). Keep covered and undisturbed for 5 minutes or so.
• Now make the pasta. While the rice and lentils are cooking, make the pasta according to package instructions by adding the elbow pasta to boiling water with a dash of salt and a little oil. Cook until the pasta is al dente. Drain.
• Cover the chickpeas and warm in the microwave briefly before serving.
• To serve, fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and transfer to a serving platter. Top with the elbow pasta and 1/2 of the tomato sauce, then the chickpeas, and finally 1/2 of the crispy onions for garnish. Serve, passing the remaining sauce and crispy onions separately.

FESTIVE CELERIAC KOSHARI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rinse the lentils and rice together under cold water until the water runs clear. Soak them in water for 30 mins, then drain. Meanwhile, toss the celeriac and garlic halves in 4 tbsp of the rapeseed oil and season. Cover with foil and roast for 20 mins, tossing occasionally. Remove the foil and return to the oven for 10 mins until soft and caramelised.
• Heat 4 tbsp of the oil over a medium heat, season and fry the onions for about 12 mins until starting to caramelise. In the meantime, cook the macaroni until al dente, then drain. Tip into the onions along with the pine nuts, fry until the nuts and pasta are starting to brown, then remove from the heat.
• Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan and add the ground cinnamon, cumin and coriander seeds. Stir until they sizzle, then add the lentils and rice. Stir-fry for 1 min, then add the stock and cranberries. Cook for about 25 mins, stirring occasionally, until the stock is absorbed and the cranberries have swelled up.
• Tip the lentil mixture into the onion mixture along with the celeriac, and heat over a medium heat to warm it all through. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and mash with the lemon zest and juice, then stir into the rice.
• In a separate container, stir the harissa into the yogurt. To serve, divide the koshari between bowls and top with the spiced yogurt and coriander.