Lentil Pilaf With Turkey Sausage Recipes

TURKEY SAUSAGE AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, cook and crumble sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon., In same pot, saute onion, celery and carrot until tender, 4-6 minutes. Add garlic and seasonings; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in sausage, lentils, tomatoes and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until lentils are tender, 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf., Transfer 5 cups soup to a blender; cool slightly. Cover; process until smooth. Return to pot; heat through. If desired, top servings with yogurt and parsley. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth or water if necessary.

TURKEY-LENTIL CHILI

Steps:

• Bring lentils and vegetable broth to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic, onion, celery, and sausage; cook and stir until the sausage is crumbly and no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, turmeric, cumin, thyme, and red pepper flakes; cook 5 minutes more.
• Stir the sausage mixture into the simmering lentils. Continue simmering until the lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Garnish each serving with a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkle of chopped parsley to serve.

LENTIL-AND-RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and caramelized, 35 to 40 minutes. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.
• Meanwhile, in a 3-quart saucepan, bring 5 cups water to a boil. Stir in brown lentils; reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain; rinse pan.
• Return lentils to pan; add long-grain rice and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook until rice is tender and has absorbed liquid, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter onions on pilaf.

LENTIL PILAF WITH TURKEY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Make lentil pilaf per package directions. Mix in carrots after pilaf has simmered 20 minutes. Prick sausages with a knife and cook in a skillet over medium heat, turning once, about 8 minutes. Slice into 2-inch pieces and stir into pilaf. Fluff and serve.

BULGUR LENTIL PILAF WITH TAHINI-HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pilaf: Bring the water and lentils to a boil in a medium saucepan. Adjust the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, fry the onions in the olive oil over medium heat until well browned, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the onions, bulgur, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to the pan with the lentils, bring to a full simmer, and then cook covered for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for an additional 15 minutes. Transfer pilaf to a platter and top with the tomato and herbs. Serve drizzled with the Tahini-herb sauce.
• Puree all the ingredients in a blender or a mini food processor to make a pale green sauce. (This can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.) Note: This sauce is also great used as a dip, spread, or salad dressing.

RICH LENTIL AND TURKEY SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Wash and pick over the lentils (to make sure there are no stones) and bring to a boil in the broth or water in a large soup pot. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté the garlic, onion, celery, and sausage for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the tomatoes and sauté for another 5 minutes.
• Add the vegetable-sausage mixture and seasonings to the lentils. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but not mushy. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt and chopped parsley for garnish.

LENTIL STEW WITH ITALIAN TURKEY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups broth, onion, and celery in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
• At the same time, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry sausage links in the hot skillet. Pierce casings with a fork to allow juices to run out and cook in the bottom of the pan. Cook until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a plate to cool. Slice into thin slices.
• Deglaze the skillet with about 1/4 cup chicken broth. Add the pan drippings to the saucepan, along with any remaining chicken broth, lentils, tomato sauce, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. If more liquid is needed, add water in small increments.
• Add sliced sausage, heat through, and serve.

LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Clean the lentils with fresh cold water to avoid foaming when cooking.
• Mix 2 cups of lentils with the 8 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.
• Heat on high, uncovered for approximately 30 minutes, mixing slightly every 10 minutes, removing any foam that may have come up.
• After the lentils turn tender and soft (not melted), make sure there is only about 2 cups of water remaining (add or remove water).
• Add the half cup of rice. Cook for 10 mins at medium fire.
• Simultaneously with the rice, fry the chopped cup of onion in the olive oil and vegetable oil until golden brown (should be about 10 minutes).
• After the 10 minutes pass, slowly pour the oil and onion over the lentils and rice. Lower the heat to Low, and let it lay for 10 minutes (do NOT mix).
• After the 10 minutes pass, add the quarter cup of vinegar and mix everything.
• Cover with a thick clean kitchen towel and leave covered for about 10 minutes.
• After the 15 minutes pass, you should have a thick pilaf of lentils and rice, with onions showing up here and there.