Why this fits a family on a budget
Using budget-friendly carrots, potatoes, and canned lentils keeps the total well under $3 per serving while still delivering a restaurant-inspired French bistro feel. The air fryer and stovetop run simultaneously so the full meal is table-ready in just 25 minutes.
• 2 lbs russet potatoes
• 1 lbs carrots
• 1 15oz can canned green lentils
• 3 tbsp vegan butter
• 0.5 cup unsweetened oat milk
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh chives
1. Peel and cut the russet potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Place them in a medium pot and cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium and cook for 12–15 minutes, until a fork slides in easily with no resistance.
2. While the potatoes boil, peel the carrots and slice them diagonally into 1/2-inch coins. In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to make the glaze.
3. Toss the carrot coins in the Dijon glaze until fully coated. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the carrots are tender and the glaze looks caramelized and slightly sticky on the edges.
4. Drain and rinse the canned lentils. In the last 3 minutes of the carrots' air fry time, add the lentils directly on top of the carrots and continue cooking so the lentils warm through and pick up some of the glaze.
5. Drain the cooked potatoes and return them to the warm pot. Add the vegan butter and oat milk. Mash with a fork or potato masher until smooth and creamy — the texture should be thick but spoonable. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Finely chop the fresh chives. Spoon the mashed potatoes into 4 bowls, top each with a generous scoop of the Dijon-glazed carrots and lentils, and garnish with chopped chives. Serve immediately.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.