The Lentils of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and the lentils recipes

 

One of the most famous typical products of Abruzzo are the lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio. They are a rare breed of brown-violet-colored that are very small and have been cultivated here in Santo Stefano di Sessanio since ancient times, even before 1000 AC.

The lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio are cultivated at an altitude between 1200 and 1400 meters in dry ground. This ground gives them a such an intense flavor that it has made them very famous in Italy and all the Europe, so that they are sought by the most important chefs of the world.

Today, the cultivation of the lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio is decreasing and they are now produced just for family consumption. That is why this typical product is protected by Slow Food Presidium with the help of the National Park of Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains.

How to cook the lentils: the lentils recipes in Abruzzo

One of the most famous lentil recipes is lentil soup. This is the recipe for the traditional lentil soup in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and in Abruzzo.

Ingredients:

• 200 grams of lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio
• 60 grams of olive oil
• garlic
• toasted bread
• salt

1- Put the lentils in a pot of water and let them soak over night. 

2- Skim off anything that floats to the top and then strain what remains. After strain out the water put them in an saucepan. 

3- Add the olive oil and garlic to the lentils and cover everything with 2 litres of water and cook. 

4- When the lentils are cooked, serve the lentils soup with toasted bread.

Lentil soup from Santo Stefano di Sessanio