Warm French Lentil Salad With Bacon Herbs Recipe 445

Steps:

• Cook 1 cup French lentils in salted simmering water until tender, about 25 minutes, adding 1/2 pound chopped haricots verts during the last minute of cooking; drain and let cool. Whisk 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon each minced shallot, Dijon mustard and chopped thyme in a large bowl; whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil. Add the lentils, haricots verts, 8 sliced radishes, 3 slices thick-cut bacon (chopped and cooked), 2 cups torn frisee and 1/2 cup pitted nicoise olives. Season with salt and pepper and toss.

Steps:

• Wash and rinse the lentils. Put in a small saucepan and cover with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil then lower to a simmer and cook until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Add extra water while cooking if the liquid gets low. Drain the lentils and return them to the pot. Stir in the salt. Meanwhile, while the lentils are cooking, cook the bacon in a heavy pan over medium heat until crispy. Drain most of the fat out of the pan, then add the shallots, garlic, rosemary, and sage, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the garlic is fragrant and the shallots are tender but not soft. Remove from the heat. Whisk the olive oil, mustard, and balsamic vinegar together until thick. Toss with the warm, drained lentils, then stir in the bacon and shallot mixture. Stir in the chopped capers and parsley. Taste and season with additional salt, if needed, and a generous quantity of black pepper. Serve warm. This keeps for 5 days in the refrigerator and is also good eaten cold.

Steps:

• Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saute pan, add the leek and carrots, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute and set aside.
• Meanwhile, place the lentils, 4 cups of water, the onion with the cloves, and the turnip in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the lentils are almost tender. Remove and discard the onion and turnip and drain the lentils. Place them in a medium bowl with the leek and carrots, and add the butter.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the 1/4 cup of olive oil, the mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add to the lentils, stir well, and allow the lentils to cool until just warm, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve. The longer the lentils sit, the more salt and pepper you'll want to add.

Steps:

• Cook 2 slices chopped bacon in a saucepan; remove with a slotted spoon. Add 2 chopped celery stalks, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 chopped red onion; saute 4 minutes. Add 4 cups water and 1 cup dried green lentils (rinsed and picked over); simmer until tender, 30 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar and 1 tablespoon grainy mustard; season with salt and pepper. Top with the bacon, chopped parsley and chopped roasted red peppers.

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Add onion to drippings in saucepan; sauté until very tender, about 15 minutes. Add 6 cups water, ham hock, lentils, 1/4 cup parsley, and 2 teaspoons thyme. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Using tongs, transfer ham hock to work surface. Drain lentils. Cool ham hock and lentils. Cut ham from bone; dice. Transfer ham to large bowl.
• Whisk walnut oil, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard in small bowl to blend. Transfer lentils to large bowl with ham. Add dressing, red onion, celery, bacon, remaining 1/4 cup parsley, and remaining 2 teaspoons thyme. Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature.