One of my favorite cooking shows is Barefoot Contessa. These lentils are perfect for dinner on a cold, winter day. And they're delicious warmed up the next day for lunch. She tends to use too much salt for my liking, so I always reduce the salt by at least half. Otherwise, these are delish!
- 2 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup good olive oil
- 1 leek, white and light green parts, sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 2 carrots, scrubbed and 1/2-inch-diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup French green Le Puy lentils
- 1 whole onion, peeled and stuck with 6 whole cloves
- 1 white turnip, cut in half
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (I only use 1/2 T)
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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.
Source: Barefoot Contessa
