Delve into the culinary world of "de puy lentils," renowned for their earthy flavor and delicate texture. These lentils, cultivated in the volcanic soils of France's Le Puy region, possess a subtle peppery taste and hold their shape remarkably during cooking. Often labeled as the "caviar of lentils," they excel in salads, stews, and as accompaniments to various dishes. Join us on a culinary journey as we explore the best recipes that showcase the unique qualities of de puy lentils, transforming simple ingredients into delectable and unforgettable meals.
Let's cook with our recipes!
FRENCH LENTILS WITH GARLIC AND THYME
This is a classic French way to cook lentils, and it's very easy. Aromatics are sautéed and then simmered with French lentils, also known as Le Puy lentils, for 20 to 25 minutes. It is an easy side dish (shown here with cod baked with prosciutto), redolent of a Provencal feast.
Provided by Nigella Lawson
Categories weekday, side dish
Time 40m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place a large saucepan over medium heat and add oil. When hot, add chopped vegetables and sauté until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add 6 cups water, lentils, thyme, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a fast simmer.
- Simmer lentils until they are tender and have absorbed most of the water, 20 to 25 minutes. If necessary, drain any excess water after lentils have cooked. Serve immediately, or allow them to cool and reheat later.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 330, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 49 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 259 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
HOW TO COOK LENTILS PERFECTLY (NOT MUSHY)
Learn how to cook lentils perfectly - it's easy! Watch my quick video above to see how I make them. Then use them in a variety of healthy, delicious recipes.
Provided by Lisa Bryan
Categories Main Course Side Dish
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Rinse the lentils in a fine mesh sieve under the faucet. Inspect the lentils and remove any bad lentils or small stones.
- Add the lentils, water, bay leaf and kombu to a pot. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat to a very low simmer, cover the pot with a lid and cook for 20-30 minutes or until tender but not mushy.
- Drain the lentils, remove the bay leaf and kombu and serve.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 0.5 cup, Calories 135 kcal, Carbohydrate 23 g, Protein 9 g, Sodium 13 mg, Fiber 11 g
LENTIL RAGOUT - FRENCH PUY LENTIL SIDE DISH
Recipe video above. Lentils can be so dull. Trust the French to make them exciting!! Lentil Ragout is a classic French way of cooking lentils. Aromatics are sautéed before simmering Puy Lentils in stock so they absorb the flavour. It's an outstanding side dish that's easy to make, the perfect side for any protein.Or just do as I do and eat a whole bowl of this for lunch!
Provided by Nagi
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic, carrot and onion until softened - around 5 minutes.
- Cook off tomato paste: Add tomato paste, bay leaf and thyme. Cook 2 minutes.
- Add lentils, simmer 15 minutes: Add lentils, stock, salt and pepper. Stir, bring to simmer, then lower heat and simmer without a lid for 15 minutes until the lentils are soft (don't let them overcook so they become mushy!).
- Season: Stir through parsley. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 415 kcal, Carbohydrate 64 g, Protein 26 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 1045 mg, Fiber 31 g, Sugar 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving
LENTILS DU PUY AND BACON SALAD
French green lentils, or lentils du Puy make a great main dish salad with the smoky taste of bacon. I've been making this forever and have no idea where I got the recipe. The amounts are estimated, but more or less what I use. (Prep/cooking is estimated too, but it takes less than an hour...) This is one of my favorite summer dinners with some good garlic bread and a chilled glass of wine. When I have great tomatoes, I slice them and serve the salad on top. It makes a nice side dish and is also very portable for picnics and beach dinners.
Provided by DeeCooks
Categories Lentil
Time 1h
Yield 4-6 main course servings, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook 6 slices bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until brown and crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels, crumble. Drain off all but about three tablespoons of bacon fat.Add onion to drippings; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add 6 cups water, lentils, remaining 2 slices of bacon, and thyme to the bacon fat and onion. Bring to boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer. After about 20 minutes, add carrots and continue to cook until lentils are tender, about 10 more minutes.
- Drain lentils, let cool.
- Whisk oil, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard in bowl to blend.
- Add lentils, red onion, celery, bacon, and parsley. Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 480.2, Fat 35.2, SaturatedFat 6.2, Cholesterol 10.9, Sodium 302.5, Carbohydrate 29.5, Fiber 10.9, Sugar 4.8, Protein 13.4
EASY CURRIED LENTILS
These easy curried lentils are packed with spices for a delicious flavor! This recipe is a budget friendly dinner that is also vegan and gluten free! Try this for your next meatless meal!
Provided by Liz Thomson
Categories Soup
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat
- Add the diced onion and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and curry powder and cook for 30 more seconds.
- Add the tomatoes and bay leaf and cook for another minute.
- Add the lentils and salt and cook for 8 more minutes.
- Turn the heat to high and add all the vegetable broth and water.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 30-35 minutes, until the lentils become soft.
- Remove the bay leaf.
- Using an immersion blender, blend part of the soup so the broth thickens, but leave the soup chunky. If you don' thave an immersion blender, take 3 cups of soup out and blend it, then add it back in.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 270 calories, Sugar 6.5 g, Sodium 834.6 mg, Fat 7.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 40.4 g, Fiber 6.4 g, Protein 12.7 g, Cholesterol 0 mg
DU PUY LENTILS WITH CARROTS
Provided by Amy Finley
Categories side-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, saute the leek in the olive oil until translucent. Add the carrots and saute 1 minute further then add the lentils, chicken broth, parsley stems and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until the lentils are soft but not mushy, about 40 minutes. Remove the cover, turn the heat up to medium and cook strongly 5 to 8 additional minutes, until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Fish out the bay leaf, the dark green leaf part of the leek and parsley stems, stir in the balsamic vinegar and parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot or at room temperature.
- Cook's Note: Du Puy lentils are the small, blue-green marbled lentils grown in the volcanic soil of the southwest of France. If you can't find du Puy lentils, an equal quantity of another small lentil may be substituted. You may need to add 10 or so minutes of cooking time.
- This recipe was provided by a finalist, who may or may not be a professional cook, for The Next Food Network Star. Food Network has not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.
Tips:
- Soaking the lentils: Soaking the lentils for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight, helps to reduce the cooking time and makes them more digestible.
- Rinsing the lentils: Always rinse the lentils thoroughly before cooking to remove any dirt or debris.
- Using a flavorful cooking liquid: Use a flavorful cooking liquid, such as broth or stock, to enhance the taste of the lentils.
- Adding aromatics: Add aromatics, such as garlic, onion, and celery, to the cooking liquid to add depth of flavor.
- Seasoning the lentils: Season the lentils with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste.
- Cooking the lentils until tender: Cook the lentils until they are tender but still hold their shape.
- Serving the lentils: Serve the lentils with a variety of toppings, such as crumbled bacon, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or shredded cheese.
Conclusion:
De Puy lentils are a delicious and versatile legume that can be used in a variety of dishes. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients. With their earthy flavor and slightly nutty texture, De Puy lentils are a great addition to salads, soups, stews, and casseroles. They can also be used as a meat substitute in vegan and vegetarian dishes. With their relatively short cooking time and ease of preparation, De Puy lentils are a great option for busy weeknight meals.
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