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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Susan Willshee says
It's lovely to see a recipe that allows the 'chef' to go off and do the hundred other things that we all have to do, rather than standing over a pot stirring the food while it's heating.
When I saw the list of ingredients I thought it was going to be far too complex for me but it looks simple and tasty
angie pickering says
Thi would be amazing for healthy eating without really knowing it!
Jo says
I like the recipe because from the ingredients it's obviously a tasty dish. I love lentils and food that have a bit of heat to them. It would be nice to try something different, I'm not sure if my kids would like it though, they find Chinese curry sauce spicey lol
kiya johnson says
The colours are amazing! Its quick and easy too which is great! Looks so good
Emma Gibson says
Looks so amazing, dont know how easy the ingredients will be to find.
Emily Leary says
Super easy - all in the same aisle at the supermarket.
Maddy says
This looks a really spicy dish!
Liking how you can use canned beans etc - avoids the need to soak!
I'm also interested that the Actifry can be used for this. I always thought it was fro chips and other fried food!
emma franklin says
I love the range of flavours and how easy yet tasty it looks.
Debbie Jayne Davies says
this looks delicious i love spicy food and the fact that this is full of protein means it would fill me up for ages.
Jacqueline Rawlings says
The recipe is very well articulated, it's very easy to follow and the food quantities are very clearly stated. The recipe itself is very colourful and inviting. I cannot wait to try this recipe out.
Caroline says
I like the "fiery" part! Even if it's just black pepper, I add spices to everything!