Emerils Bacon Lentils Food

EMERIL'S BACON LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat large soup pot over med high heat with oil.
• Add onions, celery, and carrots.
• Cook until the veggies sweat a little and become tender.
• Add bacon bits, bay leaves, and lentils.
• Cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly to not burn the bacon.
• Add the water and boillion cubes.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover and cook for about 30 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

STEWED LENTILS WITH BACON AND HERBS

Steps:

• To cook the lentils: In a large saucepan combine all the ingredients. Add water to the pot until it covers the ingredients by about 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the lentils are soft.
• Remove the pot from the heat and season the water with salt. Taste the water to make sure it is seasoned. Let the lentils sit in the salty water for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the lentils to absorb the seasoned water. Ladle off 1 cup of the lentil cooking water and reserve.
• Remove all the vegetables and aromatics from the lentils and discard. Strain the lentils from the water.
• To assemble the lentils: Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon lardoons. When the bacon has rendered off a lot of fat and has become brown and crispy, add the onions. Season the onions with salt and sweat them until they become very soft and aromatic.
• Add the celery, fennel and carrot. Season with salt and saute over medium heat until the vegetables start to become soft and aromatic, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 to 2 minutes more. Add the cooked lentils, 1/4 of the reserved lentil cooking water, the mustard and vinegar. Cook until most of the liquid has reduced. Taste for seasoning, add salt or more vinegar, if needed. Serve hot or at room temperature.
• MMMMM!!!! Lentils and bacon...OH MY!!

HEARTY LENTIL SOUP WITH BACON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Combine onion, celery, carrot, bacon and garlic in heavy Dutch oven. Stir over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Uncover; add 7 cups broth, lentils, thyme and bay leaf and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
• Transfer half of soup to processor; cool slightly. Puree until smooth. Return puree to Dutch oven. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bring soup to simmer, thinning with more broth, if desired. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.
• Combine parsley and chives in small bowl. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle parsley mixture over and serve.

EMERIL'S BACON BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• In a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon over moderately-high heat until browned, about 8 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, reduce the heat to moderate and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the softened vegetables from the pan and set aside.
• Add the Brussels sprouts in batches and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown on the outside.
• Add the reserved bacon and vegetables to the Brussels sprouts in the pan along with salt and pepper, to taste, and a pinch of sugar.
• Cover skillet with a lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until sprouts are just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

EMERIL'S GREEN BEANS CREOLE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over high heat.
• Add bacon and ham and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add onions and cook, stirring until soft, about 4 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and their juice and cook, stirring for 4 minutes.
• Add 2 cups of the water, salt, pepper and beans.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans begin to soften, about 20 minutes.
• Add remaining 1 cup water and cook until beans are very tender, about 10 minutes.