Description
Signature warm French lentils carry robust Mediterranean flavors through delicate legumes. Ina Garten’s classic dish combines earthy lentils with fresh herbs, creating a comforting meal you can savor with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (175 grams) French green Le Puy lentils
- 1 whole onion, peeled and stuck with 6 whole cloves
- 1 white turnip, cut in half
- 1 leek (white and light green parts), sliced ¼ inch thick
- 2 carrots, scrubbed and diced into ½-inch (1.25 centimeters) pieces
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsps (60 ml) good olive oil
- 1 tsp unsalted butter
- 4 tsps Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsps red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat olive oil in a medium skillet and gently sauté leeks and carrots over medium heat until softened, approximately 5 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Add minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, cooking for an additional minute to release its aromatic essence. Set sautéed vegetables aside.
- Lentil Preparation: Bring water to a rolling boil in a large saucepan. Introduce lentils, clove-studded whole onion, and turnip to create a deeply flavored base.
- Simmering Process: Reduce heat and incorporate sautéed vegetables, allowing the mixture to simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until lentils reach a tender yet firm consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Discard clove-studded onion and turnip. Drain lentils and transfer to a mixing bowl, folding in butter to create a luxurious, smooth texture.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk olive oil, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Final Assembly: Drizzle dressing over warm lentils, gently stirring to ensure complete coating. Allow the dish to rest for 15 minutes, enabling flavors to harmonize and reach an ideal serving temperature.
- Serving Suggestion: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Present the lentils warm, showcasing their rich and complex flavor profile.
Notes
- Veggie Softening Technique: Sauté leeks and carrots gently to develop a subtle sweetness, which enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.
- Flavor Infusion Trick: Adding a whole clove-studded onion and turnip during lentil cooking creates deeper, more complex taste dimensions.
- Texture Preservation Tip: Cook lentils until tender but slightly firm to maintain their integrity and prevent mushiness.
- Resting Time Magic: Allowing the dressed lentils to sit for 15 minutes helps ingredients marry and intensifies the overall taste experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 15 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg