Embark on a culinary journey with our tantalizing lentil dish, a symphony of flavors that will delight your palate. Lentils, the hearty and nutritious legumes, take center stage, simmered in a flavorful broth enriched with aromatic vegetables. Crisp bacon adds a savory twist, while a medley of spices dances on your tongue. This versatile recipe offers three delightful variations to suit your preferences: a vegetarian delight, a classic bacon-infused version, and a hearty meal enhanced with sausage. Each variation promises a unique taste experience that will leave you craving more. Whether you're a vegetarian seeking a protein-packed meal, a bacon enthusiast longing for a smoky indulgence, or a sausage lover desiring a robust flavor, this lentil dish has something for everyone. So, gather your ingredients, ignite your culinary passion, and let's embark on a delicious adventure together.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
LENTILS WITH BACON
Lentils with Bacon, a French bistro inspired way to add lentils to your diet with the indulgent flavor of bacon. Serve as a mostly-meatless main, or with salmon.
Provided by Katie Webster
Categories Side dish
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring water and lentils to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer (medium-low) and cook, stirring occasionally until just tender, 15 to 22 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup cooking liquid (see tip*)
- Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat, turning occasionally, until crisp but not burnt, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a towel-lined plate. Pour off the bacon fat and gently wipe out the pan with a clean paper towel. When bacon is cool enough to handle, chop.
- Return the skillet to medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil. Add onion, celery hearts and leaves, garlic, salt and thyme and cook,stirring often until the onion is softened and the celery is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked lentils, vinegar, smoked paprika, pepper and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and cook, stirring until the mixture is hot and thoroughly combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped bacon, the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and parsley. Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 173 calories, Sugar 2.1 g, Fat 6.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Carbohydrate 19.6 g, Fiber 7.8 g, Protein 9.3 g
SLOW COOKER LENTIL SOUP WITH BACON
This recipe is so cheap and so basic it will please anyone's empty belly, great for the cold, wet winters (even dry ones), and smells so delectable while cooking. Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your own liking. Serve with corn bread.
Provided by Jen Vanleeuwen
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beans and Peas Lentil Soup Recipes
Time 5h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Rinse lentils well under cold running water. Drain and transfer to a slow cooker. Pour in water until water level is twice as high as lentils. Add bay leaf and set slow cooker to High.
- Meanwhile, heat onion and bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until bacon is crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Season with garlic powder and transfer bacon-onion mixture to the slow cooker.
- Cook on High until lentils are tender, about 5 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 259.5 calories, Carbohydrate 36.5 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 4.5 g, Fiber 17.6 g, Protein 18.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 223.5 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
STEWED LENTILS WITH BACON AND HERBS
Provided by Anne Burrell
Categories side-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
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!!
LENTILS WITH BACON & RICE
Enjoy lentils with bacon like never before. These tasty Lentils with Bacon & Rice feature onions, carrots, celery, garlic and rosemary for maximum flavor.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 1h
Yield 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook rice as directed on package, omitting salt.
- Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in medium saucepan on medium heat 4 to 6 min. or just until bacon starts to turn crisp. Add vegetables; mix well. Cook 6 to 8 min. or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add broth, lentils and garlic; stir. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 30 to 40 min. or until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in rosemary and Worcestershire sauce.
- Serve over rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 230, Fat 2 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 3.8889 mg, Sodium 290 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 10 g
LENTIL SOUP
Pair lentils with your favorite vegetables to make this flavorful, hearty soup.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Soups, Stews & Stocks Soup Recipes
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven (or other 5-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid), cook bacon over medium-low heat until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat.
- Add onion and carrots; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, and cook 1 minute.
- Add lentils, thyme, broth, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover; cook until lentils are tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Stir in vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 346 g, Fat 4 g, Fiber 24 g, Protein 26 g
HEARTY LENTIL SOUP WITH BACON AND HERBS
Categories Soup/Stew Pork Vegetable Low Fat Wheat/Gluten-Free Lentil Bon Appétit
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 11
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.
HEARTY VEGETABLE LENTIL SOUP
My mother has diabetes, so I often prepare this dish for her. I wanted a hearty soup that hits the spot on cold autumn nights, so I paired the lentils with turkey bacon and a handful of spices. -Nicole Hopping, Pinole, California.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings (1-1/2 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon in pan. Add potatoes, carrots and onion; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until carrots and onion are tender. Add garlic and seasonings; cook 1 minute longer., Add lentils and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 30-35 minutes or until lentils and potatoes are tender. Top each serving with bacon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 314 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 708mg sodium, Carbohydrate 47g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 17g fiber), Protein 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
LENTIL SALAD WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES
This lentil salad looks and tastes bright, thanks to a combination of tangerine juice, sherry vinegar and colorful caramelized roasted root vegetables. It works either as a main course, served with good bread and butter, or as side dish with roasted meat or fish. For the maximum visual impact, use both golden and red beets. Vegetarians can feel free to leave out the bacon. Leftovers will keep for at least five days, though try to pack it up without the radicchio, which gets soggy in the fridge.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, lunch, salads and dressings, appetizer
Time 1h30m
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place vegetables in one layer on one or two large rimmed baking pans, toss with olive oil and salt. Place thyme and rosemary on top of vegetables, cover pans with foil and roast for 25 minutes. Remove foil, stir in bacon and bake for 30 to 40 minutes longer, until vegetables are tender and golden all over.
- In a large pot, combine lentils, 6 cups water, garlic, bay leaf, salt and pepper and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until lentils are tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard and salt. Then whisk in olive oil.
- Drain lentils and discard bay leaf; keep or discard garlic as you like. Toss lentils with half of the sherry vinaigrette while still warm. Add more salt, olive oil and vinegar as needed.
- Toss radicchio with enough of remaining vinaigrette to lightly coat it and arrange it on a platter. Combine lentils and roasted vegetables, adding more of the vinaigrette to taste; spoon mixture on top of radicchio. Garnish with scallions, parsley, sea salt and black pepper. Squeeze tangerine juice over the lentils and drizzle with more olive oil if needed.
Tips:
- Use high-quality lentils: Fresh, high-quality lentils will cook more evenly and have a better flavor. Avoid using lentils that are old or have been sitting in your pantry for a long time.
- Rinse the lentils before cooking: This will help to remove any dirt or debris from the lentils and ensure that they cook evenly.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This will add flavor, texture, and nutrients to your lentil dish. Some good vegetables to use include carrots, celery, onions, leeks, tomatoes, and potatoes.
- Don't overcook the lentils: Lentils are best when they are cooked until they are tender but still hold their shape. Overcooked lentils will become mushy and lose their flavor.
- Season the lentils well: Salt, pepper, and garlic are essential seasonings for lentils. You can also add other herbs and spices to taste.
- Serve the lentils hot: Lentils are best served hot, either as a main course or as a side dish.
Conclusion:
Lentils with vegetables and bacon is a delicious, healthy, and affordable meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. This dish is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. It is also a low-fat and low-calorie meal. Lentils with vegetables and bacon is a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or as a side dish. It can also be used as a filling for tacos, burritos, and other dishes.
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