Italian Sausages with Lentils

Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson, 2007

Show: Nigella Bites Episode: Childhood Memories

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (7)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(7)

Cook Time:
1 hr 0 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 0 min
Total:: 1 hr 10 min

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Ingredients

3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil (not extra-virgin), divided
1 onion, finely chopped
Sprinkling salt
About 2 3/4 cups (about 18 ounces) dried Puy lentils
1 fat clove garlic, squished with the flat side of a knife, and skin removed
8 Italian sausage links
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon red wine
1/4 cup water
Flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, for garnish

Directions

For the lentils:

Put 2 to 3 tablespoons of the oil into a good-sized saucepan (and one that has a lid that fits) on the heat and when it's warm, add the chopped onion. Sprinkle with salt (which helps prevent its browning) and cook over low to medium heat until soft (about 5 minutes). Add the lentils, stir well and then cover generously with cold water. Bring to the boil, then cover and let simmer gently for 1/2 an hour or so until cooked and most, if not all, the liquid's absorbed. I don't add salt at this stage since the sauce provided by the sausages later (and which will be poured over the lentils) will be pretty salty itself. So, wait and taste. And remember, you can of course cook the lentils in advance.

Anyway, when either the lentils are nearly ready or you're about to reheat them, put a heavy-based frying pan on the burner, cover with a film of oil and add the bruised garlic. Cook for a few minutes then add and brown the sausages. When the sausages are brown on both sides - which won't take more than 5 minutes or so - throw in the wine and water and let bubble up. Cover the pan, either with a lid or aluminum foil, and cook for about 15 minutes. Using a fork, mash the now-soft garlic into the sauce and taste for seasoning, adding a little more water if it's too strong.

Remove the lentils to a shallowish bowl or dish (I evacuate the sausages from their cooking pan, plonk the lentils in, then proceed) then cover with the sausages and their garlicky, winey gravy. Sprinkle over some flat-leaf parsley.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Italian Sausages with Lentils
Sara Snohomish, WA 11-19-2009
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Delicious, perfect weeknight meal
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I couldn't say enough good things about this recipe. Absolutely delicious, perfectly low-fuss, like we expect from Nigella.
recipe Italian Sausages with Lentils
Lisa Macomb, MI 07-15-2009
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Delicious and Easy to Make
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I was looking for a new way to make italian sausage and found this recipe. It was easy to make and lived up to its great... reviews. I will definately make again!Read more
recipe Italian Sausages with Lentils
Meenakshi Wilmington, DE 01-26-2009
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Very good and actually quite easy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Made this for the first time and it was fantastic! Took one reviewer's suggestion and used chicken broth instead of water... in the lentils. They took a bit longer than 30 minutes (about 40-45 min). But otherwise, made the recipe as directed. Used turkey-pork sausages (slightly healthier) and it was absolutely fantastic. My husband actually asked what the "sauce" was--it was nothing more than the recipe!Read more
recipe Italian Sausages with Lentils
aline pacific palisades, CA 12-11-2008
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Yummy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I love how much flavor is in this recipe. I substituted the red wine with white, and instead of the water I used more wine. ... I only used 1 cup lentils, and 5 Italian sausage links and that ratio seemed to work out well. Would definitely make it again.Read more
recipe Italian Sausages with Lentils
Julia South Euclid, OH 10-29-2008
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Tasty and Filling
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This was a good recipe although if I had made 2 and 3/4 cups of lentils like it called for I would have made WAY too much. I... ended up using about a cup and a half and it was still a lot. There wasn't too much gravy by the end of cooking, and I didn't think it added too much to the flavor. I would make it again, though. It's a good way to eat lentils.Read more
recipe Italian Sausages with Lentils
Tracie Glendale, AZ 08-28-2007
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A new family staple
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

It's so great to have a stick to your ribs recipe that is so quick and easy...and as we have alergies to contend with when... entertaining it's great because it is wheat and dairy free!Read more