Smoky Braised Lentils with (or without) Turkey Sausages
Author: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon unrefined olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 2-3 teaspoons smoked paprika (Spice Hunter is a good, easy-to-find brand. Spicely Organic has no flavor.)
  • 1 cup organic black or French lentils* (sorted and rinsed)
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (+ ½ teaspoon if you don’t cook sausages with lentils)
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1-2 packages precooked Applegate Farms Sweet Italian or Chicken Apple sausages (4/package)
Instructions
  1. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes.
  2. Add the carrots, garlic and paprika. Cook for 2 more minutes.
  3. Add the lentils, thyme, salt and water and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes** or until lentils are tender. Halfway during the cooking process, preheat the oven to 350.
  4. Bake sausages on a baking sheet until heated through, about 15-20 minutes. Slice into thirds and serve with the lentils. Or alternatively, cut the sausages in half or thirds and add to lentils halfway through cooking lentils and heat sausages through.
  5. If lentils seem too liquidy, simmer a little longer uncovered. Taste lentils and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Notes
*There seems to be a wide variety of lentil cooking times. 365 Brand takes about 30 minutes, but I have used some imported varieties that take up to 50 minutes.
Recipe by Pamela Salzman at https://pamelasalzman.com/smoky-braised-lentils-with-or-without-turkey-sausages/