Directions
To cook the lentils:
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups green or black lentils
- 1/2 fennel bulb, fronds reserved, for garnish
- 1/2 red onion, peeled, root end left on
- 1/2 carrot, peeled
- 1 stalk celery
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 small bundle thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- Salt
For the lentil garnish:
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 slices bacon, cut into lardons
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
- 1/2 cup fennel, finely diced
- 1/2 cup carrot, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- Kosher salt
To cook the lentils:
In a large saucepan combine all the ingredients. Add water to the pot until it covers the ingredients by about 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the lentils are soft.
Remove the pot from the heat and season the water with salt. Taste the water to make sure it is seasoned. Let the lentils sit in the salty water for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the lentils to absorb the seasoned water. Ladle off 1 cup of the lentil cooking water and reserve.
Remove all the vegetables and aromatics from the lentils and discard. Strain the lentils from the water.
To assemble the lentils:
Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon lardoons. When the bacon has rendered off a lot of fat and has become brown and crispy, add the onions. Season the onions with salt and sweat them until they become very soft and aromatic.
Add the celery, fennel and carrot. Season with salt and saute over medium heat until the vegetables start to become soft and aromatic, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 to 2 minutes more. Add the cooked lentils, 1/4 of the reserved lentil cooking water, the mustard and vinegar. Cook until most of the liquid has reduced. Taste for seasoning, add salt or more vinegar, if needed. Serve hot or at room temperature.
MMMMM!!!! Lentils and bacon...OH MY!!
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By drbassoon
on February 27, 2012
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LOVED it. Ridiculously delicious. I'll probably drain some of the bacon fat off next time. I forgot to say - I happen to love vinegar so I used it and the mustard as the recipe calls for and it blew my mind with yumminess. I would not change the proportions for the world!
By CavesBeach
Caves Beach
on October 01, 2011
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Anne's show has only just come to Australian cable TV. I am enjoying the episodes I have seen so far - the meals are suitable for my family, and it is great learning so many tips and techniques from a professional chef and instructor.
I am trying to do more with legumes (had a few shocking results with Indian so far! so I just made these lentils for dinner. I used thinly sliced pancetta instead of bacon. I deglazed the pan with 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, which worked out nicely. Unfortunately, I didn't see the comments about the mustard - for me, three tablespoons is over the top and overwhelms the dish. I suspect my four-year-old won't like it, but fingers crossed.
I will make this dish again, but will cut down on the mustard.
By Jeaninems
Danville
on September 15, 2011
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I was so excited to see this episode...I had everything in my fridge...even the fennel from my farm box...I was wondering hat to do with the fennel...this was the perfect answer...this is a delicious recipe. My 5 year old and not quite two year old loved it!!! I'll make this again!
Read all 38 reviews