Braised Lentils With Saffron Food

BRAISED LENTILS WITH CIPOLLINI ONIONS

Steps:

• Coat a large high-sided saute pan over medium-high heat, with the olive oil. Add the lentils, garlic cloves and bay leaves with 4 cups water or just enough to cover. Bring the water to a simmer and lower the heat. Simmer the lentils, uncovered, until they are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. (Chef's Note: If you need to add more water for the lentils to finish cooking, add a little at a time. There will be more flavor in the lentils if you cook them and end up with very little liquid at the end of the process. The flavor will be in the lentils instead of down the drain with the discarded cooking liquid!) Once they are cooked but still somewhat "al dente", set them aside to cool. Remove and discard the garlic cloves and the bay leaves. Season with just a touch of salt and pepper, to taste. Retaste, but hold off on reseasoning until serving.
• Add the duck fat to a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt, to taste, and allow them to caramelize.
• When you are ready to serve add the lentils to the sauteed cipollini onions. Stir to coat the lentils with the duck fat. Taste and season with salt, if needed, and stir in the vinegar. Transfer the lentil mixture to a serving bowl and serve with duck and green peppercorn glaze, if desired.

BRAISED BLACK LENTILS

Steps:

• Melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Cook and stir onion, carrot, celery, and salt until vegetables are softened and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add thyme sprigs and pepper. Stir in lentils until well coated. Add chicken stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, checking occasionally, until the lentils are tender and have absorbed all the liquid, about 35 minutes. Remove from heat and discard thyme stems. Stir in champagne vinegar and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

FLAVORFUL PERSIAN BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over lamb shanks and cover with salt.
• Mix turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over lamb shanks. Let lamb shanks marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot. Cook and stir onion until browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Whisk hot water, lime juice, rose water, and saffron together in a small bowl. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook lamb shanks in batches until browned, 5 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb shanks to a plate.
• Whisk wine into the pot, scraping any browned bits off the bottom. Add onion and garlic mixture, steeped saffron mixture, parsley, thyme, lime zest, and bay leaves. Return lamb shanks to the pot. Cover with chicken broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until lamb shanks are tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Uncover pot and simmer until broth reduces slightly, about 20 minutes. Transfer lamb shanks to an oven-safe dish.
• Place lamb shanks in the preheated oven to keep warm.
• Bring broth to a boil; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Spoon broth over lamb shanks.

STEAMED LENTILS WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils well.
• Heat the vegetable stock in a small pot.
• Meanwhile, in a different medium pot heat the olive oil.
• Add the onion and cook until translucent, 5 to 8 minutes, then add the prosciutto and cook for a few more minutes.
• Add the lentils, cook for another 2-3 minutes, and pour the white wine.
• Add the saffron and cook until the alcohol has evaporated, 4-5 minutes.
• Add the stock, salt to taste, and cook over low heat for 50 minutes to 1 hour, covered.
• Add water or more stock if necessary.

BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils and stir 1 minute. Add stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until lentils are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

OVEN-BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or medium ovenproof pot over medium heat. Add vegetables and bacon, and cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add lentils, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in stock to cover lentils. Bring to a boil. Cover, and transfer to oven. Braise until tender and thickened, about 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.

LENTIL AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Cook the lentils in salted water, covered, for 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Add the shallot, vinegar and olive oil and toss well. Set aside.
• Make the saffron aioli. Peel the garlic cloves and mash them with half a teaspoon of salt in a mortar and pestle. Add the egg yolk and mix in thoroughly. Gradually add the olive oil little by little beating continually until you have a thick emulsion (this can also be done in a blender). Add the vinegar by the tablespoon to thin the sauce.
• Soften the saffron in the warm water. Add it to the aioli and mix in with a chopstick or a small fork. Let it sit for an hour or so, refrigerated, to develop the flavor.
• Thoroughly wash and dry the arugula. Arrange the leaves either on an individual plate or a large serving dish and spoon the lentils in the center. Serve with the aioli.

BRAISED LENTILS WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Soak lentils for about 6 hours.
• Peel and halve the onion and place into a saucepan with 3 tablespoons oil and the ham.
• Drain the lentils and add them to the saucepan, brown breifly, then moisten with the wine.
• Add the saffron strands and powdered saffron.
• When the wine has evaporated, pour just enough hot stock to cover the lentils.
• bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• Taste and add salt if necessary, then discard the onion and serve hot.

BRAISED LENTILS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Pour enough cold water over the lentils, onions, carrots, celery, and bay leaves in a 3-quart saucepan to cover by three fingers. Season with salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Adjust the heat so the water is at a gentle boil and cook until the lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the lentils, discard the bay leaves, and transfer to a large skillet.
• Pour in the chicken stock and olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid is reduced enough to coat the lentils, about 3 minutes. Scatter the spinach over the lentils and toss just until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.

BRAISED LENTILS WITH GARLIC SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven. Slice onion into quarters; cut quarters crosswise into 1-inch chunks. Add onion, celery and garlic to pan; cook, stirring, until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Do not let vegetables brown (lower heat if necessary).
• Add sausage, lentils, thyme and enough water to cover. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer, partially covered, until lentils are tender, about 1 hour.
• Season with vinegar and additional salt and pepper. Discard thyme. Stir in the parsley. Serve warm, with mustard alongside.