French Puy Lentil Salad Recipes

LENTIL RAGOUT - FRENCH PUY LENTIL SIDE DISH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Sauté garlic, carrot and onion until softened - around 5 minutes.
• Cook off tomato paste: Add tomato paste, bay leaf and thyme. Cook 2 minutes.
• Add lentils, simmer 15 minutes: Add lentils, stock, salt and pepper. Stir, bring to simmer, then lower heat and simmer without a lid for 15 minutes until the lentils are soft (don't let them overcook so they become mushy!).
• Season: Stir through parsley. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve!

FRENCH LENTILS WITH GARLIC AND THYME

Steps:

• Place a large saucepan over medium heat and add oil. When hot, add chopped vegetables and sauté until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add 6 cups water, lentils, thyme, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a fast simmer.
• Simmer lentils until they are tender and have absorbed most of the water, 20 to 25 minutes. If necessary, drain any excess water after lentils have cooked. Serve immediately, or allow them to cool and reheat later.

FRENCH LENTIL SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Before cooking the lentils, make sure you rinse them well and pick over them to remove any small rocks or debris. Combine lentils, chicken broth and bay leaf in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down and simmer until lentils are tender, 25-30 minutes for French green lentils or 20-25 minutes for common brown or green lentils. Remove bay leaf, strain and let cool.
• In a large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except goat cheese. Add cooled lentils and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Transfer salad to serving dish, crumble goat cheese over top and serve.
• Note: When preparing this recipe, be sure to build in at least 10 minutes to cool the lentils after they have cooked.

WARM FRENCH LENTILS

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.

PUY LENTIL, SPICED ROAST CARROT & FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a shallow roasting tin, toss together half the oil, the cumin, carrots and some seasoning. Roast for 25 mins, turning halfway through cooking. Drizzle over the honey, stir and roast for 5 mins more.
• Meanwhile, gently heat the lentils with the onion, lemon juice, remaining oil and some salt and pepper. Allow to cool slightly while the carrots finish cooking.
• Toss the dressed lentils with mint and lamb's lettuce. Lay warm spiced carrots on top and scatter with feta.

PUY LENTIL SALAD

Steps:

• Wash the lentils thoroughly and then soak in plenty of water for 2 hours. Drain and reserve 3/4 cup of the liquid.
• Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and saute the onion until golden.
• Add the garlic and cook for a furtehr minute.
• Add the lentils, salt and reserved water and cook over a low heat for 20-25 minutes - stirring frequently - until the liquid has evaporated. The lentils should still be firm.
• Tip the lentils into a serving bowl. Toss through the capsicum, red onion, parsely, extra virgin olive oil and vinegar. Grind on pepper to taste.

LENTIL SALAD WITH WALNUT OIL

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, garlic, bay leaf, onion, carrot and water in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Add salt to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons), reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 35 to 45 minutes until the lentils are tender. Remove from the heat. and discard the onion, carrot, garlic cloves and bay leaf. Drain through a strainer set over a bowl.
• Whisk together the vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and shallot or garlic. Whisk in the oil and 2 to 4 tablespoons of the liquid from the lentils. Stir into the lentils. Add the parsley and pepper, and taste and adjust salt. Spoon onto plates, arrange walnuts on top of the lentils, and serve.

FRENCH PUY LENTIL SALAD

Steps:

• Peel the half-onion and stud with the cloves.
• Combine onion, lentils, lemon zest, garlic, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon cumin and water in a medium-sized pan.
• Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 25-30 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed, taking care not to burn- you can add a little more water if needed, but try not to cook much more than 30 minutes as they should be'al dente'.
• Reserve the garlic and chop finely, but discard the onion, lemon zest and bay leaf.
• In a suitable container, whisk together the vinegar, oil, lemon juice, remaining cumin and reserved garlic, to make the dressing.
• Stir the dressing through the lentils with the mint and chopped green onions, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Allow to stand for 30 minutes so that the flavors absorb.
• Serve at room temperature.