GREEN LENTILS WITH ROASTED BEETS AND PRESERVED LEMON

Green Lentils With Roasted Beets and Preserved Lemon image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

5 small beets (about 1 pound), peeled
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup French green lentils
1 carrot, peeled and finely diced
1/2 small onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs parsley
2 sprigs thyme
1 preserved lemon (available in specialty shops) or 2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped mint sprigs for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 shallot, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Reserve 1 beet for garnish and cut the remaining 4 into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss the cubes with a teaspoon of oil, season with salt and pepper and bake 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, place the lentils, carrot, onion, bay leaf, parsley, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small pot and add water to cover the lentils by about 3/4 of an inch. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until the lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard the herbs, drain well and transfer to a large bowl.
To make the vinaigrette, combine the lemon juice, zest, shallot and 1/4 teaspoon salt and let stand for 15 minutes. Whisk in the olive oil and season to taste with pepper and more salt if necessary.
To assemble the salad, quarter the lemon and scrape out the soft pulp. Finely chop the pulp and stir 2 teaspoons into the vinaigrette. Finely chop the lemon skin and add it, along with the vinaigrette, roasted beets, parsley and chopped mint, to the lentils. Toss and serve on a platter. Grate the reserved beet and use it for garnish with mint sprigs.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 261, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 30 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 369 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams