Green lentils and bacon share a harmonious relationship, creating a perfect balance between the robustness of bacon and the earthy nuttiness of lentils. Combined in a salad, they form a hearty, flavorful, and satisfying meal. This article will guide you through a culinary journey to discover the best recipe for a green lentil and bacon salad. We'll explore different ways to cook and season the lentils, choose the right bacon, and select complementary ingredients like vegetables, herbs, and dressings. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, this article will provide you with all the information you need to create a delightful green lentil and bacon salad that will tantalize your taste buds.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
WARM LENTIL SALAD WITH BACON
Steps:
- Cook 2 slices chopped bacon in a saucepan; remove with a slotted spoon. Add 2 chopped celery stalks, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 chopped red onion; saute 4 minutes. Add 4 cups water and 1 cup dried green lentils (rinsed and picked over); simmer until tender, 30 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar and 1 tablespoon grainy mustard; season with salt and pepper. Top with the bacon, chopped parsley and chopped roasted red peppers.
LENTIL SALAD WITH BEETS AND BACON
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Chop about two-thirds of the bacon into 1/4-inch pieces; set aside. Wrap the thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns and garlic in a piece of cheesecloth; tie closed with kitchen twine. Combine the cheesecloth bundle, the remaining slab bacon, the lentils and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. Drain, discarding the cheesecloth bundle and bacon; let cool.
- Meanwhile, cook the chopped bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and just crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels; set aside.
- Make the dressing: Whisk the mustard and vinegar in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. Toss the beets with about 1 tablespoon of the dressing in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the salad: Add the lettuce, endive, shallot, parsley, chives and the prepared lentils and bacon to the bowl with the dressing; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and toss. Top each serving with some beets.
GREEN LENTIL AND BACON SALAD
Steps:
- Cook bacon in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Add onion to drippings in saucepan; sauté until very tender, about 15 minutes. Add 6 cups water, ham hock, lentils, 1/4 cup parsley, and 2 teaspoons thyme. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Using tongs, transfer ham hock to work surface. Drain lentils. Cool ham hock and lentils. Cut ham from bone; dice. Transfer ham to large bowl.
- Whisk walnut oil, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard in small bowl to blend. Transfer lentils to large bowl with ham. Add dressing, red onion, celery, bacon, remaining 1/4 cup parsley, and remaining 2 teaspoons thyme. Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature.
LENTIL, CABBAGE AND BACON SALAD
Provided by Jacques Pepin
Categories salads and dressings, appetizer, side dish
Time 35m
Yield Six servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place the lentils in a colander and rinse them under cold water, removing and discarding any damaged specimens or foreign material. Place the lentils in a pot with 2 1/2 cups of lukewarm water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat, cover and boil very gently until tender, about 20 minutes for domestic lentils or 35 to 40 minutes for imported lentils.
- Meanwhile, place the bacon pieces in a skillet and cover them with lukewarm water, separating the pieces. Bring to a boil over high heat and immediately drain in a colander. Rinse under cool water and return the bacon to the skillet. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bacon is brown and has rendered its fat. Add the onions and croutons to the bacon and saute for 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, until the croutons are brown on all sides.
- Place the dressing ingredients in a salad bowl and add the cabbage. Toss to mix. Drain any remaining liquid from the lentils and add them, while still hot, to the cabbage. Mix well.
- When ready to serve, add the croutons and bacon to the salad bowl, toss well and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 455, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 44 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 17 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 745 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
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
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh, flavorful ingredients will make a big difference in the taste of your salad. Look for green lentils that are plump and firm, and bacon that is thick-cut and smoky.
- Cook the lentils properly: Lentils should be cooked until they are tender but still hold their shape. If you overcook them, they will become mushy and lose their flavor.
- Don't overdress the salad: A little bit of dressing goes a long way. If you add too much, the salad will be soggy and oily.
- Let the salad rest before serving: This will allow the flavors to meld together and the salad to chill slightly.
Conclusion:
This green lentil and bacon salad is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover lentils. The combination of lentils, bacon, vegetables, and dressing is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you are looking for a new salad recipe, give this one a try.
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