Lentils With Wild Mushrooms And Sausage Recipes

ITALIAN SAUSAGES WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• 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.

SAUSAGE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Combine water, lentils and onion in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 15 minutes. Add sliced sausage, and season with cumin, salt and pepper. Simmer until lentils are tender, about 5 to 10 more minutes.

LENTIL AND SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Place sausage in a large pot. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Add onion, celery and chopped garlic, and saute until tender and translucent. Stir in lentils, carrot, water, chicken broth and tomatoes. Season with garlic powder, parsley, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover, and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until lentils are tender.
• Stir in pasta, and cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until pasta is tender.

WILD MUSHROOMS AND BEEF OVER LENTILS

Steps:

• Microwave lime in a small bowl to release essential oils and set aside until it is just cool enough to handle.
• Rinse beef to remove any blood residue and pat dry with paper toweling. Rub with salt and pepper and set aside briefly. Combine shallots, garlic, thyme, parsley, sage and olive oil to form a smooth paste. Rub into beef and let sit for a minimum of 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil in a large saute pan with an oven safe handle, and sear beef on all sides. Roast in oven until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 125 degrees F, about 20 to 25 minutes, so when you pull it out it will reach 145 degrees F for medium doneness during the carryover cooking while it is resting. (You will be using the pan juices for the lentils, so do not discard them.)
• While the beef is roasting, rinse lentils in a colander and examine to make sure there are is no foreign material (such as pebbles). Transfer to a saucepot with just enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer for about 20 minutes until lentils are re-hydrated and water is absorbed, then remove from heat.
• While lentils are cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute white onion until translucent. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the saute pan and when it melts, add shiitake, crimini, and portobello mushrooms to the onion pan along with sage and thyme. Cook mushrooms until they begin to soften and to give up their juices. Stir sauteed onion- mushroom-herb mixture into pot of lentils along with demi-glace. Lower heat and cook for a few minutes to integrate flavors, but do not allow lentils to get mushy. Remove from heat and keep in a warm place.
• Remove beef from oven and transfer to a utility platter to let rest. Strain pan juices from beef into lentil mixture and stir to combine. Keep covered and warm.
• Sliced rested beef into thin slices. Stir diced tomato into lentils. Spoon some lentil/mushroom mixture into the center of serving dish and top with beef. Garnish with chopped parsley.

RIGATONI WITH SAUSAGE AND WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Soak the porcini in a bowl of one-and-a-half cups boiling water or broth for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using a heavy skillet, brown the sausage pieces. Remove them from the pan and drain them on paper towel.
• Saute the onion and the garlic in the olive oil until soft.
• Trim the stalks from the mushrooms. Wash off any grit under cold running water or use a soft brush or clean towel (do not soak the fresh mushrooms or they will become soggy). Slice them into one-and-a-half-inch pieces.
• Drain the porcini through a coffee filter, cheese cloth or paper towel, reserving the soaking liquid. Chop the porcini and add them with their soaking liquid to the onion, along with the tomato paste, chicken stock and herbs. Season lightly with salt and pepper and simmer gently for half an hour. If the sauce gets too thick add more stock. If it is too thin, turn up the heat.
• Meanwhile, bring six quarts water to boil for the rigatoni. Cook the rigatoni, drain and place the pasta in a heated bowl. Pour the sauce on top and toss thoroughly. Serve immediately. Pass the cheese separately.

SAUSAGE WITH RICE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• In a medium stock pot, make the rice to package directions. Set aside.
• Boil lentils in another saucepan with 4 inches salted water and a bay leaf for 25-30 4. minutes, or until lentils are tender but still firm and not mushy. Drain and reserve half the cooking liquid.
• In a deep skillet, heat oil on medium heat, and saute the cumin seeds, onions, garlic, ginger, bell peppers and carrots for 5-7 minutes, stirring often. Now add red chili flakes and salt to taste. Saute for 5 more minutes and then add sliced sausage.
• After 4-5 minutes, or when sausage is slightly browned at the edges, add drained lentils to skillet. Stir. Add 1/4 cup of the lentil cooking liquid.
• Swirl in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and add another 1/4 cup of lentil cooking liquid if needed. Stir to dissolve the paste well.
• Let the mixture simmer 5 more minutes and then turn off heat. Add juice of 1 lime and chopped fresh cilantro. Serve over plain rice.

CHORIZO SAUSAGE, MUSHROOMS AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy based saucepan. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat until it is golden and has released its fat.
• Add the onion, carrot, celery, leek, bay leaves, thyme and garlic to the pan and cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring from time to time. Add the sliced mushrooms, and cook a few more minutes until mushrooms have softened.
• Meanwhile, brown the sausages, then cut them into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Add the wine, stock and sausages to the pan and bring to the boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Give it a stir from time to time, and add a little more red wine or stock if necessary.
• At the end of this time, add the lentils.
• Fold in the spinach and parsley and cook until wilted.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve piping hot.

LENTILS WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Combine porcini and 1 ¼ cups hot water in small bowl. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 20 minutes. Drain; reserve porcini and ¾ cup soaking liquid, leaving any sediment behind in bowl. Bring small saucepan of water to boil. Add pearl onions and cook 3 minutes. Drain. Peel onions and reserve. Saute sausage in medium skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Set aside. Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Add pancetta, chopped carrots, onions, celery, garlic, thyme and bay leaf; saute until vegetables are almost tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in lentils and tomato paste. Add broth, wine, carrots, reserved porcini soaking liquid, pearl onions and chorizo. Simmer uncovered until most of liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.