Lentil Celery And Ginger Salad With Cucumber Vinaigrette Food

BRAISED CELERY WITH LENTILS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Heat ¼ cup oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high. Add celery and toss to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until celery is very lightly browned, about 5 minutes, then add garlic and toss to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is deep golden brown and celery is tender and golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Mix in 1 tsp. kosher salt, then add wine and herbs (if using) and stir to combine. Cook until wine is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil; stir in lentils. Cook until lentils are warmed through and flavors have come together, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with more kosher salt if needed. Fish out herb sprigs if using and discard.
• Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Crack eggs into skillet and cover with a lid (or a baking sheet if you don't have one), reduce heat to low, and cook just until egg whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.
• Divide braised celery mixture among bowls. Top each with an egg and some celery leaves; sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Serve with crusty bread, if desired.

LENTIL, CELERY AND GINGER SALAD WITH CUCUMBER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Bring large saucepan of water to a boil. Add lentils and onion. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring medium pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add carrot strips and cook 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon and plunge into cold water. Drain and pat dry. In fine sieve over medium bowl, drain tomatoes; set aside.
• Drain lentils and cool. Discard onion. Transfer lentils to medium bowl and add celery, red onion, ginger, lemon juice, soy sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and set aside.
• In food processor, combine cucumber, vinegar, dill, mustard, and salt to taste. Process until mixture is smooth.
• Spoon lentils into mound in center of serving plates. Top each with tomatoes and carrots. Drizzle with cucumber dressing and garnish with sprouts.

ITALIAN LENTIL SALAD

Steps:

• For the Salad:
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the lentils and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 18 to 20 minutes. Drain and let cool for 5 minutes. Place lentils and remaining salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.
• For the Vinaigrette:
• Place the lemon juice in a small bowl. Slowly add the oil, whisking constantly, until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste
• Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss well.

GINGERED LENTIL AND CELERY SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Peel the carrot and cut it lengthwise into 8 strips that are 1/8-inch thick and about 5 inches long. (If it is hard to get strips that long, shorter ones can be used.) Plunge the strips into boiling water for 1 minute, cool immediately under cold water, pat dry and set aside. Put the tomatoes in a fine sieve over a bowl and push them with the back of a spoon to press out excess liquid; set tomatoes aside.
• Put the lentils and the white onion in 2 quarts of cold water over medium heat and cook gently for 45 minutes. Drain, remove the onion and let the lentils cool. When cool, put lentils in a mixing bowl with the celery, red onion, ginger, lemon juice, soy and olive oil. Mix, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and chill.
• Put the cucumber, vinegar and mustard in a blender; season lightly with additional salt and pepper, and puree. Set aside.
• Line the inside of a round cookie cutter 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter with a carrot strip. Put the cookie cutter on a serving dish and use it as a mold. Spoon in the lentils and pat firmly. Gently smooth the tomatoes on top in a thin layer. Repeat with the remaining carrot strips and lentils, placing 2 rounds on each of 4 serving plates. Spoon the cucumber vinaigrette around the cakes, garnish with sprouts and parsley, and serve.

SPICY RED LENTILS WITH CAPERS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• Place large saucepan of water on to boil for the lentils.
• Check lentils for any stones etc. Place lentils in a fine sieve and run under lots of running water, when water runs clear, give them a good tap on the side of the bench to get rid of excess water.
• Tip lentils into saucepan of boiling water, stir them well and cook them for only a couple of minutes, until they are just tender with a hint of firmness (watch them very carefully as they can turn into mush in the space of 30 seconds or so, testing them as you go).
• As soon as they are ready pour them into a sieve to drain, shaking them well to get rid of any excess water.
• Tip the cooked lentils into the dressing and mix well. Add the currants and the capers, and leave the salad to cool to room temperature, stirring it regularly.
• When you are ready to serve, pile it onto a plate/bowl and sprinle some onion slithers and parsley leaves over the top.