Lentil Ragout - French Puy lentil side dish
Recipe video above. Lentils can be so dull. Trust the French to make them exciting!! Lentil Ragout is a classic French way of cooking lentils. Aromatics are sautéed before simmering Puy Lentils in stock so they absorb the flavour. It's an outstanding side dish that's easy to make, the perfect side for any protein.Or just do as I do and eat a whole bowl of this for lunch!
Servings: 4 - 6 as side
Calories: 415cal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove , finely minced
- 1/2 onion , finely diced
- 1 carrot (large) , peeled and finely diced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf , preferably fresh otherwise dried
- 1 thyme sprig
- 1 cup puy lentils (French lentils) (Note 1)
- 3 cups vegetable stock , preferably homemade else low sodium store bought (Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp salt (skip if using store bought)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley , finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic, carrot and onion until softened - around 5 minutes.
- Cook off tomato paste: Add tomato paste, bay leaf and thyme. Cook 2 minutes.
- Add lentils, simmer 15 minutes: Add lentils, stock, salt and pepper. Stir, bring to simmer, then lower heat and simmer without a lid for 15 minutes until the lentils are soft (don't let them overcook so they become mushy!).
- Season: Stir through parsley. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve!
Notes
1. Puy Lentils - These small, greenish-black mottled lentils are sold dried at larger supermarkets in Australia.
2. Stock quality - Homemade vegetable stock is superior to any store-bought stock, and is one of the main things that distinguishes home and restaurant cooking. With vegetable stock being so simple to make, I really urge you to make your own. It makes these lentils knock-your-socks-off delicious, elevating it to restaurant quality (no exaggeration!)
Nutrition
Calories: 415cal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1045mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 31g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3083IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 8mg