Best Lentils And Bacon Recipes

STEWED LENTILS WITH BACON AND HERBS

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 VEGETABLES AND BACON

Steps:

• Bring water and lentils to a boil in a large saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until mostly tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a stew pot over low heat. Add oil and carrots; cook, covered, until carrots begin to soften, about 15 minutes. Drain cooked lentils well.
• Add onions and mushrooms to the carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add bacon and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in lentils; cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes more.

LENTILS DU PUY AND BACON SALAD

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.

PAN-SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH LENTILS, BACON, AND CIDER REDUCTION

Steps:

• For mascarpone cream:
• Place wine and shallots in heavy small saucepan. Boil until almost dry, about 6 minutes. Add cream. Boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Stir in mascarpone, lemon peel, and chives. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to small bowl; cover and chill. Rewarm before serving.
• For cider reduction:
• Place cider, vinegar, and shallots in heavy medium saucepan. Boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Strain; discard solids in strainer. Return cider mixture to pan. DO AHEAD: Cider reduction can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For lentils:
• Press thin end of cloves into peeled onion. Place onion in heavy large saucepan. Add 6 cups water, lentils, and bay leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Pour all but 3 tablespoons fat from skillet. Add shallots to skillet and sauté over medium heat until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Drain lentils, discarding onion and bay leaves. Add reserved bacon, lentils, and thyme to shallots. DO AHEAD: Lentils can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring often.
• For scallops:
• Bring cider reduction to simmer. Whisk in 5 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Keep warm.
• Season scallops with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops and cook until brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Divide lentils among 6 plates. Arrange 3 scallops atop lentils on each plate. Drizzle cider reduction over scallops and around lentils. Drizzle warm mascarpone cream over.

DUCK WITH LENTILS AND BACON-DATE PUREE

Steps:

• For bacon-date puree:
• Sauté bacon in small saucepan over medium heat until crisp. Stir in brandy, scraping up browned bits. Add dates and 1 1/4 cups water; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until dates are very soft, about 12 minutes. Transfer to blender. Puree date mixture until smooth, adding more water by tablespoonfuls if too thick to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Date puree can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• For lentils:
• Place 8 cups water, lentils, garlic, and bay leaves in medium saucepan. Sprinkle with salt. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are just tender but still firm to bite, about 15 minutes or longer, depending on type of lentils. Drain; rinse under cold water to cool. Drain; discard garlic and bay leaves. Transfer to large bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add carrot, celery, and 1/3 cup shallots. Sauté until carrots and celery are crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Stir carrot mixture into lentils. Mix remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons shallots and red wine vinegar in small bowl. Let mixture soak 5 minutes, then whisk in remaining 6 tablespoons oil. Add vinaigrette to lentil mixture; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Using sharp knife, score skin of duck breasts diagonally to create 3/4-inchwide diamond pattern. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat 1 large skillet and 1 medium skillet over medium-high heat. Place 2 duck breasts in large skillet and 1 duck breast in medium skillet, skin side down. Cook until skin is brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Turn duck, skin side up, and cook until brown and thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 130°F, about 6 minutes.
• Transfer duck to work surface. Drain all but 1 tablespoon fat from 1 skillet. Add shallot and sauté until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add Sherry vinegar and stir, scraping up browned bits. Add broth; bring to boil. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Thinly slice duck breasts. Spoon 1/4 cup date puree in center of each of 6 plates and spread with back of spoon, forming well in center; spoon lentils into each well. Place duck breast slices atop lentils, dividing equally. Drizzle sauce over and serve.

LENTILS AND BACON

Steps:

• Combine lentils,water and bacon in a large heavy saucepan .
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Add potatoes and continue to cook until lentils are tender about 15 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar and sugar.
• Taste and add salt if needed.
• Place in serving dish and keep warm.
• Melt butter in skillet ;saute onions and parsley over medium heat until onions are transparent.
• Spoon over lentils.
• Serve hot.

BROWN RICE AND LENTILS WITH BACON

Steps:

• In a big skillet, bring the water to a boil.
• Add the garlic, carrot, and onion.
• Cook until tender.
• Add the cumin, coriander, brown rice, lentils, cooked bacon, and beef broth.
• Cover, lower heat and simmer for about 45 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
• Fluff with fork.
• Stir in cilantro.
• Replace the lid and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

SALMON WITH BACON AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Combine lentils, onion, carrot and orange peel in heavy large saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Discard orange peel. Return lentils to pan. Season lentils with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 say ahead. Cover and chill lentils and reserved cooking liquid separately.)
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place salmon on baking sheet. Wrap 1 bacon strip around center of each salmon piece, arranging bacon ends on bottom. Bake salmon until opaque in center, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add enough reserved cooking liquid to lentils to moisten. Mix in cream, then parsley, chives and tarragon and bring to simmer. Spoon lentil onto plates. Top each with 3 salmon pieces in spoke fashion and serve.

REALLY EASY BACON AND RED ONION LENTILS

Steps:

• Fry the bacon and red onions in olive oil for about five minutes until the onion has become soft.
• Add the lentils to the pan and warm through.

A SOUP OF LENTILS, BACON, AND CHARD

Steps:

• Peel the onion and chop it finely, then let it soften in a deep pan over medium to low heat with a little olive oil. Peel the garlic, slice it thinly, then add to the onion with the chopped bacon or pancetta. Chop the parsley and stir it in.
• Wash the chard thoroughly, set aside four beautiful stalks and their leaves, then separate the remaining stalks and leaves. Chop the stalks coarsely and set the leaves aside. Add the chopped chard stalks to the onion and bacon and continue cooking,
• Wash the lentils thoroughly, then stir them into the onion and bacon. Pour over the stock or water and bring to a boil, skimming off any froth that comes to the surface. You can add a bay leaf or two if you like. Decrease the heat so that the lentils simmer merrily, then almost cover the pot and simmer until they are tender, but far from collapse-about thirty minutes, depending on your lentils.
• Tear the reserved chard leaves up a bit. Stir them into the soup. Steam the reserved whole leaves and stalks until tender.
• Season the soup with salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and the mint leaves, tasting as you go. Ladle the hot soup into warm bowls, add the steamed chard, and serve with more lemon and mint for those who want it.

HOSTELLERIE DU CERF'S SALMON WITH LENTILS, BACON AND HORSERADISH CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare the lentils: Rinse lentils and sort carefully, discarding any pebbles you may find. In a medium-size saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the carrot, onion, celery and leek and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, three to four minutes. Add the lentils, bouquet garni, chicken stock or water and wine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, discard bouquet garni and keep lentils warm.
• Prepare the horseradish cream: In a small saucepan, combine the cream and the horseradish and simmer gently until mixture is well blended. Keep warm.
• Cook the bacon: Place the bacon in a large skillet. Using no additional fat, turn the heat to medium-high and cook, turning and stirring frequently, until crisp. Pour off and discard the fat. Drain the bacon on paper towels and set aside.
• Cook the salmon: Brush a ribbed cast-iron stove-top grill with oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Season salmon with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill fish just until the flesh turns opaque and is still resilient, not soft or overly tough, about four minutes per side, depending upon the thickness of the fish. (The fish may also be grilled under a broiler or on an outdoor grill.)
• Using a slotted spoon, divide the lentils among four heated dinner plates. Place a piece of salmon on top and spoon the sauce all around the lentils. Sprinkle the salmon with the bacon and shower each plate with herbs. Serve immediately.

TROUT WITH LENTILS, BACON AND WALNUT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• 1. Cook lentils: Fill a small, lidded pot with salted water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add lentils and simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain lentils and return to pot. Cover pot with lid to keep warm and set aside. 2. Meanwhile, make walnut vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together walnut oil, vinegar and shallots. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If too tart, add a pinch sugar. Set aside at room temperature to allow flavors to meld. 3. Cook bacon: In a medium sauté pan over medium heat, cook bacon until tender and golden on all sides, about 4 minutes. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. 4. Cook trout: Divide olive oil between 2 medium pans over medium-high heat. Salt skin sides of trout. Once oil is hot, lay 1 fillet, skin-side down, into each pan. Once skin is crisp and brown, after 3-4 minutes, flip trout and cook until just cooked through, about 1 minute more. 5. Stir crème fraîche and herbs into warm lentils. Season with salt to taste. 6. To serve: Spread seasoned lentils across a large platter. Nestle trout, skin-side up, into lentils and spoon shallots from vinaigrette overtop. Scatter bacon and drizzle remaining vinaigrette over entire dish.