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    Home » Spicy recipes

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    Fiery lentils and beans - Actifry recipe

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    Fiery lentils and beans on a bed of white rice

    Each time I go to the Caribbean, I feel like I’m in food heaven. Bread fruit, plantain, flavour-rich rice, jerk chicken, gorgeous curries, ackee and saltfish, rum laced cake, spicy patties - it’s a culinary joy.

    Emily Leary holding a 'New Year's Revolution with Tefal ActiFry' chopping board

    As part of their latest campaign, "New Year's Revolution", Tefal challenged me to use the ActiFry to create something delicious and healthy with a little taste of the Caribbean.

    If you're not already familiar with the ActiFry, it's an iconic kitchen appliance sometimes called an "air fryer". It works using hot air and a stirring paddle, meaning you can cook up a big batch of tasty, crispy, evenly cooked chips with just one small spoonful of oil.

    But it can also be used to make all sorts of other meals, from meatballs to stir-frys, to cakes (check out my blueberry cake to see how well it works!)

    So, with Caribbean flavours on my mind, I grabbed my trusty jar of jerk seasoning marinade from the fridge and got to work on a simple side dish that takes minimal active prep and is packed with beans, lentils and peas that you’ll often find in Caribbean cuisine.

    Emily Leary holding a New Year's Resolution wheel

    I must stress, this fiery lentils and beans recipe isn’t an authentic Caribbean dish, rather a homage to those wonderful flavours and a way to experience a new dish outside of your normal homecooking.

    So, if you tend to stick to only enjoy Caribbean food when out to eat, or even if the only beans you usually to cook with are the ones that you put on toast, and then this is a great way to shake things up!

    You might not have heard of some of the pulses we're using, but don't worry, they're all easily found in the World Food's aisle - look for the Caribbean section.

    So, let’s plug in the Actifry and make some hot hot hot lentils, beans and peas in jerk marinade.

    Here's the full recipe for this fiery lentils and beans dish.

    Fiery lentils and beans served with rice

    Ingredients

    • 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola oil)
    • 1 large (1) onion finely chopped
    • 4 cloves (4) garlic minced
    • 1 red or green chilli deseeded and finely chopped (leave out if you like it a little less fiery)
    • 2 tbsp jerk seasoning marinade paste
    • 2 tsp turmeric
    • 4 fresh tomatoes chopped
    • 265 g (9.3 oz) green lentils 1 can
    • 130 g (4.6 oz) canned red kidney beans ½ can
    • 240 g (8.5 oz) canned black eye beans 1 can
    • 240 g (8.5 oz) gungo peas (aka pigeon pea) 1 can
    • 270 g (9.5 oz) green pigeon peas 1 can
    • 700 ml (1.5 pint) vegetable stock hot

    Equipment

    • Air fryer
    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Colander
    • Kitchen knife
    • Chopping board
    • Measuring jug

    Instructions

    Put the oil, onion, garlic, chilli and jerk marinade into the bowl of the Actifry and close the lid.

    Oil, onion, garlic, chilli and jerk marinade in the Actifry bowl

    Set to manual mode, temp 220C/425F, set the timer to 10 minutes and press start.

    Oil, onion, garlic, chilli and jerk marinade cooking in the Actifry

    Add the turmeric, tomatoes and all of the lentils, beans and peas, plus the freshly boiled water or stock and close the lid.

    Add the rest of the ingredients to the Actifry

    Set to manual mode, temp 220C/425F, set the timer to 20 minutes and press start.

    Fiery lentils and beans cooking in the Actifry

    Taste to determine if you'd like to add a little more moisture to the dish. If so, simply stir in a splash of freshly boiled water.

    And that’s it. An amazingly satisfying, high protein and deliciously fiery side dish.

    These fiery lentils and beans are served with rice

    What did you think of this delicious Caribbean inspired dish?

    Print this fiery beans and lentils recipe

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    4.8 from 104 votes

    Fiery Lentils and Beans - Actifry Recipe

    An amazingly satisfying, high protein and deliciously fiery side dish, made in the ActiFry with jerk marinade, beans, peas and lentils.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Caribbean
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 8 side servings
    Author: Emily Leary

    Ingredients

    • 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola oil)
    • 1 large (1) onion finely chopped
    • 4 cloves (4) garlic minced
    • 1 red or green chilli deseeded and finely chopped (leave out if you like it a little less fiery)
    • 2 tbsp jerk seasoning marinade paste
    • 2 tsp turmeric
    • 4 fresh tomatoes chopped
    • 265 g (9.3 oz) green lentils 1 can
    • 130 g (4.6 oz) canned red kidney beans ½ can
    • 240 g (8.5 oz) canned black eye beans 1 can
    • 240 g (8.5 oz) gungo peas (aka pigeon pea) 1 can
    • 270 g (9.5 oz) green pigeon peas 1 can
    • 700 ml (1.5 pint) vegetable stock hot

    Equipment

    • Air fryer
    • Weighing scales
    • Measuring spoons
    • Colander
    • Kitchen knife
    • Chopping board
    • Measuring jug

    Instructions

    • Put the oil, onion, garlic, chilli and jerk marinade into the bowl of the Actifry and close the lid.
    • Set to manual mode, temp 220C/425F, set the timer to 10 minutes and press start.
    • Add the turmeric, tomatoes and all of the lentils, beans and peas, plus the hot stock, and close the lid.
    • Set to manual mode, temp 220C/425F, set the timer to 20 minutes and press start.
    • Taste to determine if you'd like to add a little more moisture to the dish. If so, simply stir in a splash of freshly boiled water. 

    Video

    Notes

    If you prefer, you can make this dish in a large saucepan on the stove. Simply heat the oil in the pan, then add the onion, garlic, chilli and jerk marinade and frying until softened. Add all the other ingredients, bring to the boil then turn down to a simmer, pop on the lid and cook for 30 minutes until softened and cooked through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 935mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1305IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 5mg
    * Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @amummytoo on Instagram or tag @EmilyLearyCooks on Twitter. I can't wait to see your posts!

    This is a commissioned post for Actifry.

    Pin this air fryer fiery beans recipe

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      4.75 from 104 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Zena’s Suitcase says

      March 07, 2019 at 8:11 pm

      I would not have thought of using an air fryer to create a dish like this. I love Caribbean flavours and this sounds easy to make but even better healthy and tasty too

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        May 09, 2019 at 11:30 am

        It's delicious Zena, do you have an Actifry? If so give it a go!

        Reply
    2. Gillian McClelland says

      February 28, 2019 at 8:36 pm

      I love that it is meat free and has such a wide range of vegetables as I always struggle to get my 5 a day. The spices sound interesting

      Reply
    3. Sophie Roberts says

      February 28, 2019 at 8:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love how easy it is to make, I can’t wait to try it for myself!

      Reply
    4. Marion Payne says

      February 28, 2019 at 7:53 pm

      Looks delicious and very healthy thanks will definitely try

      Reply
    5. Tom Carling says

      February 28, 2019 at 7:52 pm

      5 stars
      Great food

      Reply
    6. claire Fawkner says

      February 28, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      This looks fab! What a great use of the ingredients - mouth watering! Healthy too

      Reply
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