Confit Leeks With Lentils Lemon And Cream Food

CONFIT LEEKS WITH LENTILS, LEMON AND CREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• If necessary, soak and carefully rinse the leek rounds in a large bowl of water to get rid of any excess grit. Drain, then cautiously pat dry, keeping the rounds intact.
• Add the leeks, garlic, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper to a 12-by-8-inch/30-by-20-centimeter baking dish. Mix gently to combine, then pour the oil on top. Arrange the leeks cut-side up, then cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and gently turn the leeks using two forks. Cover again with foil and return to the oven to bake until completely softened, about 35 minutes more. Turn the oven temperature up to 200 degrees Celsius/400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• As the leeks bake, fill a medium saucepan about two-thirds of the way with water and bring to a boil over high. Add the lentils and cook until just tender but not at all mushy, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• When ready, remove the confit leeks from the oven and transfer a heaping 1/2 cup/100 grams of the cooked leeks plus 5 of the garlic cloves to a bowl for the leek cream. Add the cooked lentils to the remaining leeks in the baking dish along with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper; mix gently to combine. Cover again with the foil and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and leave to settle for 10 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs.
• While the lentils bake with the leeks, make the cream: Add reserved leeks and garlic to a food processor along with the heavy cream, mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/8 teaspoon of salt; blitz until smooth.
• When ready, stir the remaining 4 tablespoons lemon juice and the chopped herbs into the lentil and leek mixture. Transfer to a rimmed platter and serve with the leek cream in a bowl alongside.

LEEKS BRAISED IN CREAM WITH GARLIC AND LEMON

Steps:

• Trim leeks about 2 inches beyond the point where the leaves start to darken.
• Trim the root end and cut the leeks in half length-wise and then crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Place the leek pieces in a large bowl filled with cold water and rinse thoroughly.
• Lift the leeks out of the water (the soil will have sunk to the bottom) and into a colander to drain.
• Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the leeks and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks start to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add the cream, broth and zest.
• Cover and simmer until the leeks are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid and cook until the braising liquid thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Sprinkle with parsley, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.

HALIBUT CONFIT WITH LEEKS, CORIANDER, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Coarsely grind 1 tablespoon coriander seeds in a spice mill or with a mortar and pestle. (Alternatively, you can coarsely chop with a knife.)
• Toss leeks, cilantro sprigs, oil, half of lemon slices, and 2 teaspoons ground coriander in a large roasting pan; season with salt. Roast, tossing occasionally, until leeks are tender and starting to brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove roasting pan from oven and carefully pour infused oil into a large heatproof measuring cup.
• Reduce oven temperature to 275°F. Season halibut with salt and arrange over leeks in roasting pan. Top with remaining lemon slices and ground coriander and pour infused oil over fish. Roast until halibut is just cooked through and starting to flake, 30-35 minutes.
• Cut halibut into large pieces and serve with leeks and lemon topped with chopped coriander seeds and cilantro leaves.
• Do ahead: Halibut can be roasted 1 hour ahead. Let cool and cover.