Crock Pot Pasta With Lentils And Chard Recipes

FRENCH LENTILS WITH CHARD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the lentils, 2 quarts water and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 40 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Stir the chard into the simmering lentils. Cook another 10 minutes or so, until the lentils and greens are tender. The chard should be tender but still bright. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve, passing the cheese at the table for sprinkling. Alternatively, transfer to an oiled baking dish, top with rounds of goat cheese, crumbled feta or grated Parmesan, and heat through in a medium oven.

CROCK POT PASTA WITH LENTILS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Rinse and drain chard well. Trim off coarse stem ends; then cut stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips and set aside.
• Cover chard leaves and refrigerate.
• In a 3-quart or larger electric cooker, combine chard stems,lentils, onion, garlic, cumin seeds, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
• Pour in water. Cover and cook at low setting until lentils are tender when mashed with a fork (6 to 7 hours).
• Cut chard leaves crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips; stir into cooker.
• Increase heat setting to high; cover and cook until chard is wilted and bright green (about 15 minutes more).
• Meanwhile, in a 5 to 6-quart pan, cook linguine in 3 quarts boiling water just until tender to bite (10 to 12 minutes); or cook according to package directions. Drain well, pour into a warm wide 4-quart bowl.
• Season lentil sauce to taste with salt.
• Add lentil sauce and Neufchatel cheese to linquine, mix lightly to coat well.
• Offer Parmesan cheese to add taste, if desired.