Umbrian Sausage And Lentil Stew Recipes

Steps:

• 1 In a large pot, cook the pancetta, onion, celery, carrot, sage, and red pepper with the oil over medium heat. When the pancetta is lightly browned, after about 15 minutes, stir in the lentils, tomatoes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add cold water to cover by one inch. Bring to a simmer. Simmer the lentils 45 minutes. 2 Meanwhile, chop the sausage and place it in a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sausage meat is nicely browned, about 10 minutes. 3 When the lentils are almost tender, stir in the sausage and cook 15 minutes more. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large casserole or very large sauté pan with a lid. Add the pancetta and sausages and sizzle for 10 minutes, turning the sausages occasionally until nicely browned and sticky. Scoop the sausages out on to a plate.
• Add the onions, carrot and garlic to the pancetta and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions soften. Return the sausages to the pan and add the rosemary, lentils, stock, vinegar and tomatoes, then season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer rapidly for 5 minutes, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring every so often until the lentils are tender. (It can now be chilled and frozen for up to 1 month.) Check the seasoning, scatter over the parsley and serve from the pan with a winter leaf salad.

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups broth, onion, and celery in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
• At the same time, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry sausage links in the hot skillet. Pierce casings with a fork to allow juices to run out and cook in the bottom of the pan. Cook until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a plate to cool. Slice into thin slices.
• Deglaze the skillet with about 1/4 cup chicken broth. Add the pan drippings to the saucepan, along with any remaining chicken broth, lentils, tomato sauce, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. If more liquid is needed, add water in small increments.
• Add sliced sausage, heat through, and serve.

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils and cull them for small stones and debris. Put them in a heavy 4-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid. Cut thick sausages into 1-inch lengths or thin ones into 2-inch lengths, and put them in the pot. Clean and thinly slice the celery, chop the leaves, peel and finely chop the onion, and add it all to the pot.
• Pour in the water, and add the salt and a few grindings of black pepper. Stir all the ingredients together, cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce the heat and cook at a lively simmer for about 1 hour, stirring from time to time to prevent the lentils from burning. When the sausages and lentils are cooked and the liquid has thickened, serve piping hot in bowls.