.Spiced Red Lentil Dip.

For my momma's birthday {we hosted dinner at our house}, Husband made this dip for an appetizer.

And it was super delicious!

And super healthy!

I HIGHLY recommend trying this out the next time you have guests over OR if you just want something to snack on yourself {it's great for sitting in your fridge for a few days}. We served it with pita chips {recipe at the bottom}, but you could try cucumbers, crackers, carrots {the 3 C's! ha} or crostini toasts.

Spiced Red Lentil Dip

via MyRecipes

Ingredients:

1 cup dried small Red Lentils {you can also use brown or green lentils...but it won't be as pretty}

1 Bay leaf

1 tbsp Olive oil

1 cup finely chopped Onion

2 tbsp Pine nuts

1 tbsp Tomato paste

1 tsp fine Sea salt

1 tsp ground Coriander seeds

1/2 tsp ground Cumin

1/2 tsp ground Caraway seeds

1/8 tsp ground Red pepper

3 Garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp fresh Lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. 

2. To prepare dip, place lentils and bay leaf in a large saucepan; cover with water to 2 inches above lentils. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Discard bay leaf.

3. Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and nuts; saute 5 minutes or until nuts are slightly browned. Stir in tomato paste and next 6 ingredients {tomato paste through to garlic}; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in juice. Combine lentils and onion mixture in a food processor; process until smooth.

Pita Chips {2 Ways}

Ingredients:

4 {6 inch} Whole wheat Pitas

Olive Oil

a} Za'atar seasoning {found in your ethnic section at your grocers. This is what we use!! Sooo good!}

b} Fine Sea salt & Freshly ground Pepper

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350F.

2) Coat both sides of each pita with cooking spray. Cut pitas into wedges.

3) Choose either:

a) Sprinkle wedges with za'atar seasoning on 1 side.

b) Sprinkle wedges evenly with salt and pepper on 1 side.

4) Arrange pita wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.