Rosemary Scented Lentils And Sausage Food

ITALIAN SAUSAGES WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• For the lentils:
• Put 2 to 3 tablespoons of the oil into a good-sized saucepan (and one that has a lid that fits) on the heat and when it's warm, add the chopped onion. Sprinkle with salt (which helps prevent its browning) and cook over low to medium heat until soft (about 5 minutes). Add the lentils, stir well and then cover generously with cold water. Bring to the boil, then cover and let simmer gently for 1/2 an hour or so until cooked and most, if not all, the liquid's absorbed. I don't add salt at this stage since the sauce provided by the sausages later (and which will be poured over the lentils) will be pretty salty itself. So, wait and taste. And remember, you can of course cook the lentils in advance.
• Anyway, when either the lentils are nearly ready or you're about to reheat them, put a heavy-based frying pan on the burner, cover with a film of oil and add the bruised garlic. Cook for a few minutes then add and brown the sausages. When the sausages are brown on both sides - which won't take more than 5 minutes or so - throw in the wine and water and let bubble up. Cover the pan, either with a lid or aluminum foil, and cook for about 15 minutes. Using a fork, mash the now-soft garlic into the sauce and taste for seasoning, adding a little more water if it's too strong.
• Remove the lentils to a shallowish bowl or dish (I evacuate the sausages from their cooking pan, plonk the lentils in, then proceed) then cover with the sausages and their garlicky, winey gravy. Sprinkle over some flat-leaf parsley.

ROSEMARY LENTILS

Steps:

• Put lentils, shallots, garlic, rosemary, and bay leaf in a medium saucepan; cover with cold water by 2 inches (about 5 cups water). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Partially cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Drain; discard garlic, rosemary stem, and bay leaf. Return lentil mixture to pan. Stir in salt, vinegar, and oil; season with pepper. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve.

SAUSAGE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Combine water, lentils and onion in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 15 minutes. Add sliced sausage, and season with cumin, salt and pepper. Simmer until lentils are tender, about 5 to 10 more minutes.

FRENCH-LENTIL AND SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown sausage, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the lentils, stock, 3 1/2 cups water, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon rosemary, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt. Bring stew to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until lentils are just tender, about 50 minutes.
• Return sausage to the pan; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 teaspoons rosemary. Season stew with salt and pepper.

ROSEMARY-SCENTED LENTILS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes or until almost tender.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, rosemary, and garlic to a pan. Cook 10 minutes stirring constantly or until tender. Add sausage, cook 5 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add tomato paste and remaining 4 ingredients; cook 1 minute or until heated.
• Add sausage mixture to lentils; bring to a boil. Cook 15-30 minutes or until lentils are tender.

SAUSAGE AND LENTILS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Bring lentils, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until lentils are just tender but not falling apart, 12 to 25 minutes.
• While lentils simmer, cut fennel bulb into 1/4-inch dice and chop enough fennel fronds to measure 2 tablespoons. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then stir in onion, carrot, fennel bulb, fennel seeds, and remaining teaspoon salt. Cover pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lightly prick sausages in a couple of places with tip of a sharp knife, then cook sausages in remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board.
• Drain cooked lentils in a sieve set over a bowl and reserve cooking water. Stir lentils into vegetables with enough cooking water to moisten (1/4 to 1/2 cup) and cook over moderate heat until heated through. Stir in parsley, pepper, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1 tablespoon fennel fronds. Season with vinegar and salt.
• Cut sausages diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve lentils topped with sausage and sprinkled with remaining tablespoon fennel fronds. Drizzle all over with extra-virgin olive oil.

LENTILS WITH GARLIC SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a large dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the sausage pieces, and cook over medium high heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage to a plate.
• Add the leeks, carrot, and garlic to the oil in the pan and cook over medium heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the lentils, herbs, bay leaf, and 5 cups water; bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer over low heat until the lentils are tender, about 35 minutes. Remove the herb sprigs and bay leaf.
• In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the mustard. Add the sausage back into the pot, and stir until sausage is warmed through. Transfer the stew to bowls, and drizzle with the mustard oil and parsley to serve.

ROSEMARY-SCENTED LAMB OVER PASTA

Steps:

• Prepare rigatoni according to package directions; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic, lamb, and bell pepper until the lamb is tender, about 3-4 minutes.
• Increase to high heat. Deglaze pan with wine and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Add tomato and sprig of rosemary. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in cream, salt, and pepper. Return pan to heat and reduce to medium. Cook until just heated through.
• Toss with hot rigatoni. Garnish with Parmesan, rosemary, sage, and oregano. Serve immediately.