WARM LENTILS WITH MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Warm Lentils with Mustard Vinaigrette image

Provided by Anne Burrell

Time 55m

Yield 3 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

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1 1/2 cups black lentils
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 stalk celery
1 small bundle fresh thyme
1/2 carrot, peeled
1/2 fennel bulb
1/2 red onion, peeled, root end left on
Kosher salt
Olive oil, for sauteing
1/2 carrot, finely diced
1/2 fennel bulb, finely diced, plus fennel fronds, for garnish
1/2 onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, smashed
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

For the lentils: In a large saucepan, combine the lentils, bay leaves, garlic, celery, thyme, carrot, fennel, red onion and a good amount of salt. Add water to the pan until it covers the ingredients by about 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the lentils are soft, 20 to 30 minutes. Ladle off 1 cup of the lentil-cooking water and reserve. Remove all the vegetables and aromatics from the lentils and discard. Drain the lentils.
For the warm salad: Heat a large saute pan with enough olive oil to coat the pan. Add the diced carrots, fennel and onions and sweat the vegetables about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute 1 minute more. Add in the lentils, red wine vinegar and mustard. Pour in a couple tablespoons of the reserved cooking liquid and cook down for a couple minutes. Season with salt and garnish with chopped parsley and fennel fronds.