Smoky Braised Lentils with (or without) Turkey Sausages
Servings: 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
- In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes.
- Add the carrots, garlic and paprika. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.