Wednesday, February 16, 2011

My new comfort food

Italian sausage and lentils by Nigella Lawson


Ingredients

3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
Sprinkling salt
About 2 3/4 cups (about 18 ounces) dried Puy lentils (I use 1 cup for two people)
1 fat clove garlic, squished with the flat side of a knife, and skin removed
8 Italian sausage links (use the big thick ones)
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon red wine
1/4 cup water
Flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, for garnish

Directions

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.


Have a fabulous day!!

12 comments:

Leigh Powell Hines said...

This looks great. I will have to try it. leigh

Corinne said...

Sounds delicious! I'll have to give it a try.

Anastasia Schembri said...

You must have been reading my mind! I love lentils and just yesterday was thinking of how else I can make them asides from my usual recipe. This sounds delish! I am trying it tonight!

The enchanted home said...

I grew up with this dish...my mom is an avid cook so we were quite lucky to have grown up with the smells of wonderful dishes permeating the air...this is a slightly different take but looks and sounds totally delicious!
Stop by, doing my first giveaway, a gorgeous french chair.....for this Friday!

highheeledlife said...

This sounds delish... will have to pass the recipe over to Mr. G... Happy Wednesday...HHL

nomo wino daph said...

Oh my.....looks and sounds delish! All of the sudden these almonds are so tasty :p

Hope your day is great friend!!
XO, D

Ms. Bake-it said...

Sounds good but since I do not eat meat, I will pass this recipe on to my dil. I do love lentils though!

I hope you are having a fabulous day!

~ Tracy

Vannessa@Luxuria said...

Coming from Nigella I know this will taste delicious. Used to really like her until I saw her in a London restaurant one day, and she was extremely rude, obnoxious and ungracious!

Henley on the Horn said...

I love a good recipe, Suburban Princess!

Jo said...

Will need to try this recipe. Love watching her cook ~ if only I could look like her and have her talent.

Jo

The Mrs. said...

Never tried this before! May have to!

Wendy said...

I love lentils, and I love anything made by Nigella! Funny, I was craving lentils last night and I pulled a bag out of the cupboard to make today. Now I know what I'll be doing with them!