Best 3 Aromatic Lentils And Sauteed Mushrooms Recipes

CRISPY GLAZED PORK BELLY WITH AROMATIC LENTILS

Steps:

• To make pickling liquid: Put the brown sugar, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, cloves, water and cider vinegar in a pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
• Put the pork belly into a pot of cold salted water and bring to a boil, skim the top of the water to remove the impurities, then reduce to a simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Strain the pork from the water and rinse.
• Put the pork belly pieces into the pickling liquid and simmer for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, until tender.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the pork belly from the pickling liquid and pat dry. In a large cast iron pan over medium heat, sear the pork belly, season with salt, and pepper, then put in oven. Continue to check on the pork belly constantly turning the pieces over to ensure all sides are crispy, remove from the oven.
• Strain 2 cups of pickling liquid in a small pan and reduce by 2/3, until the liquid achieves a thick syrup consistency. Put the reduced pickling liquid, now a glaze, in a bowl and coat the crispy pork belly.
• Spoon the Aromatic Lentils and Sauteed Mushrooms, recipe follows in the center of the serving plate, then scatter the crispy glazed pork belly around the aromatic lentils and serve immediately. Serve with Baked Eggs, if desired, recipe follows.
• Mushrooms:
• Put the oil and butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the crimini mushrooms, garlic, and thyme, saute until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar, season with salt and pepper, toss and remove from heat. Reserve the mushrooms to add to the cooked lentils.
• Put the lentils, shallots, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and water in a pot, bring to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer, cook until lentils are tender.
• Remove the bay leaves, garlic, and shallots, and set aside. Strain the lentils and put in a large bowl. Puree the garlic and shallots, and add back to the lentils and season with salt, and pepper. Add the sauteed mushrooms and diced tomatoes to the lentils. Toss and garnish with chives.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Divide the vegetable oil and shallots evenly among 4 oven-proof wide-mouthed ramekins. Gently crack 2 eggs per ramekin. Divide the tomato, butter, and cream evenly among the ramekins. Season with salt, and pepper, and put in the oven for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, until eggs whites have set.
• Carefully, remove the ramekins from the oven and garnish with fresh sliced chives and serve immediately with toast.

BRUSCHETTA WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Toast your bread in a toaster or on the grill, or if you are lucky enough to own one, an Italian stovetop toaster.
• In a large pan over medium-high heat, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper, and another sprinkling olive oil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often. Add the parsley and thyme, cook for another 5 minutes.
• Serve the mushrooms warm, on top of the bread slices, dress with some extra salt, pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil.

ROASTED MUSHROOMS WITH BRAISED BLACK LENTILS AND PARSLEY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• For mushrooms, trim any woody stems, and clean with a damp kitchen towel as needed. Place face down on a sheet tray lined with parchment. Season assertively with salt and pepper. Generously drizzle with olive oil, and roast until tender, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a heavy-bottomed wide sauté pan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over gentle heat. Add in the onion, fennel and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper and cook until tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes, taking care not to brown the vegetables. Add the lentils, stirring to coat them with the olive oil and vegetable mix. (Add more olive oil if needed to get a glossy coating on the lentils.) Cover just barely with cold water, add the bay leaves and fennel stalk and reseason with salt and pepper. Simmer, partly covered, until the lentils are tender but not mushy, stirring occasionally and adding more water as needed, as you might for a risotto. (You want to end up with wet-juicy cooked seasoned lentils but not lentil soup.) Turn off heat, remove bay leaves and cooked-out fennel stems or fronds, and finish with a healthy drizzle of olive oil.
• For croutons, over medium heat, melt the butter in a skillet large enough to hold the diced bread in a single layer. Add in the bread, stir to coat evenly with the butter and season with salt. Toast the croutons in the butter on the stovetop, stirring frequently, until golden brown and crispy. The butter will smell browned and toasted. Remove from the heat, season with salt and black pepper and allow to cool briefly before tossing with chopped parsley and lemon zest.
• Combine lentils with the roasted mushrooms and any accrued roasted mushroom juices, scatter croutons over top and serve.