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Simple Braised French Lentils - nourishing and comforting and a delicious healthy side dish that pairs well with so many things! Leftovers can be frozen, or repurposed into breakfast or into a salad! 

Simple Braised French Lentils

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 36 reviews
  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 1x
  • Category: legumes, side dish
  • Method: braised, stovetop
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Simple Braised French Lentils – nourishing and comforting and a delicious healthy side dish that pairs well with so many things! Leftovers can be frozen, or repurposed into breakfast or into a salad!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced ( or sub 1 large leek)
  • 1 cup diced celery (or fennel bulb)
  • 1 cup diced carrot ( or beet!)
  • 34 garlic cloves, rough chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups dry French Green Lentils (Le Puy, or small black lentils- beluga, caviar, etc. )
  • 1/4 cup sherry wine, red wine, white wine, marsala wine (or skip it and add 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar at the end)
  • 4 cups veggie or chicken stock ( or water and 1 bouillon cubes)
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard- whole grain or dijon (optional)
  • 45 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery and carrots and stir 4-5 minutes, then turn heat down to medium. Cook 4-5 more minutes and add the garlic and lentils. Cook 2 minutes stirring.

Add the wine. Let this cook-off, about 2 minutes.

Pour in the stock, salt, and mustard and stir until combined and bring to a good simmer. Add the bay leaves and thyme sprigs, cover and gently simmer on low heat  25-30 minutes or until lentils are tender.

When the lentils are tender, uncover and cook off any extra liquid ( or feel free to drain). Remove the thyme sprigs, taste and adjust salt.  A tiny little splash of red wine vinegar livens them up.

Leftovers can be frozen for later use, or refrigerated and made into a salad the next day- adding fresh veggies and a simple vinaigrette.  Or use for breakfast, warmed on toast, with Sauteed Greens, a poached egg and an herby green sauce like gremolata or Leek oil. YUM. 😉


Notes

Leftovers can be frozen for later use, or refrigerated and turned into a salad the next day- adding fresh veggies and a simple vinaigrette.  Or use for breakfast, warmed on toast, with a poached egg and an herby green sauce like gremolata or Leek oil. YUM. 😉

These French green lentils were quite small- which allows them to cook quickly! Larger lentils may take longer to cook- check at 25, and add more liquid if need be.

I love the flavor of Sherry wine here- yes, it is kind of “old-school” but it adds a tasty complexity and subtle sweetness. Do not confuse this up with Sherry vinegar. 😉

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ¾ cup
  • Calories: 177
  • Sugar: 2.5 g
  • Sodium: 613.9 mg
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 27.2 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 9.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg