Eintopf

Eintopf is a dish known in many cultures, wherever an open fireplace (or bonfire) was used to hang a single pot. It was also a popular dish among the people, not the elite. In Germany, where it was widespread, "Eintopfy" only made it into cookbooks during World War I. At that time, it also became an important dish in public canteens for the poor. Eintopf owes its true social career and enduring popularity to the Nazi "Wintershilfe" campaign, a nationwide collection for the poor. As part of this campaign, Germans were encouraged to give up expensive meat dishes for one Sunday a month and eat cheaper "Eintopf," donating the saved money to "Wintershilfe." It is worth remembering that until World War II, meat was practically a privilege of the middle and upper classes.

INGREDIENTS:

1 can of tomatoes (400 g)

4 stalks of celery (250 g)

150 g red lentil pasta (see notes)

150 g onions (3 medium)

20 g olive oil (2 tablespoons)

3 cloves of garlic

1L broth/water

300 g cooked or canned red beans (see variations)

wild garlic, optional

PREPARATION: Cut the onions into small pieces and finely chop the garlic. Peel the celery and cut it into thicker slices, about 0.5 cm. In a pot, heat the olive oil and add the onions and celery. Fry for 5 minutes and then add the garlic and fry for another minute. Add the tomatoes and water/broth, bring to a medium heat until it boils, add the pasta and cook according to the instructions until it is al dente. Add the cooked beans. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

VARIATIONS: The dish will vary depending on the type of beans you use and how well they are cooked beforehand. Canned beans (or chickpeas) can also be used. Similarly, the proportions of the ingredients can be adjusted. The essence of one-pot dishes is to use what needs to be used, in the amount that is available. Another important element is the amount of water/broth. We can have a thicker, stew-like dish or a thinner one more like soup. At the end of cooking, I added a large amount of wild garlic, which is in season in Lower Saxony, and which I add to everything on this occasion. You can season the dish with spices such as smoked paprika, sweet paprika, pepper, coriander, cumin, juniper berries/nutmeg or leave a light, tomato taste by adding only a little fresh herbs such as coriander or parsley.

NOTES: Such dishes were created out of necessity, using whatever was at hand. Often from leftovers, such as unused potatoes or leftover pasta. Proportions in such dishes are highly flexible. The composition is flexible as well.

SERVING: It goes well served with a spoonful of sour plant-based yogurt, or sprinkled with lime/lemon, salt (smoked) and chili flakes.

NUTRITIONAL VALUES: A 450g serving has about 220 kcal, 11.5g of protein, 5.5g of fat, and 33g of carbohydrates.

I really liked this unusual combination of beans and pasta. I happened to have bought protein pasta, so I thought it would make a great protein-packed Eintopf. Eintopf is a traditional peasant dish made from whatever ingredients are available. It's actually one of the oldest dishes in human history. The first soups were made exactly this way, by boiling together grains, herbs, and whatever else was available. Today, it means using whatever we have in the fridge or what we just bought. I have a supply of beans that I'll gradually eat, so beans are my starting point. Canned tomatoes, on the other hand, are one of those products I always have. Thanks to their umami flavor, tomatoes add universal taste, and if I have a can of tomatoes, I know I'll make something good. A lot also depends on our habits, not just our dietary habits, but also our shopping habits. For example, what kind of pasta do we buy - regular, whole grain, or protein? What ingredients we have at home will determine what we cook and whether we eat healthily. 

Cooking is not just the time when we stand in the kitchen with a knife and pots boiling... it's also that moment in the store when we choose a product from the shelf. What will I use it for? With what? Can I use it with the products I have or do I need to buy something else?