Each time I go to the Caribbean, I feel like I’m in food heaven.
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.
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.
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
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 freshly boiled water or 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.
And that’s it. An amazingly satisfying, high protein and deliciously fiery side dish.
What did you think of this delicious Caribbean inspired dish?
Print this fiery beans and lentils recipe
Fiery Lentils and Beans - Actifry Recipe
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
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
Nutrition
This is a commissioned post for Actifry.
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Jane Berrow says
This recipe looks worth a try. It will make a change to use the Actifry for something different to chips.
Natalie Green says
Looks very simple to follow
Kristie Metcalfe says
I think that it would have too much of a kick for me. A lot of recipes for vegan/vegetarian dishes all seem to put a whole lotta spice etc into the dish, which I do not enjoy! Would there be another kind of seasoning which could be used with the same ingredients?
Emily Leary says
You could just use less :)
Margaret Adamson says
I like the sound of this recipe and will be trying it. Can't say I've heard of some of the ingredients though As long as it's hot and spicy it will be a winner here and will remind us of our recent Jamaican holiday
bev says
I'm going to try it. I adore carib food but have never tried this one. I bet it would be nice with plantains.
Stewart Smith-Langridge says
the recipe has my mouth watering and that's just after I've had my tea. Lovely ingredients and a bit of spicy flavouring.
Maggie Norvell says
It looks scrumptious - I can't wait to try it. Very healthy, too.
ruth robinson says
looks really tasty and good for you too but i would prefer more sauce with mine
Helen CJ says
Lovely sounding recipe! I can’t wait to try it out
Jo m welsh says
This sounds like something my husband would really enjoy.