French Lentils With Garlic and Thyme

French Lentils With Garlic and Thyme
Michael Kraus for The New York Times
Total Time
40 minutes
Rating
5(2,570)
Comments
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This is a classic French way to cook lentils, and it’s very easy. Aromatics are sautéed and then simmered with French lentils, also known as Le Puy lentils, for 20 to 25 minutes. It is an easy side dish (shown here with cod baked with prosciutto), redolent of a Provencal feast.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings
  • 3tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
  • 1onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1carrot, peeled and finely chopped
  • cups French lentils
  • 1teaspoon dried or fresh thyme
  • 3bay leaves
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

330 calories; 8 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 49 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 18 grams protein; 259 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place a large saucepan over medium heat and add oil. When hot, add chopped vegetables and sauté until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Add 6 cups water, lentils, thyme, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a fast simmer.

  3. Step 3

    Simmer lentils until they are tender and have absorbed most of the water, 20 to 25 minutes. If necessary, drain any excess water after lentils have cooked. Serve immediately, or allow them to cool and reheat later.

Ratings

5 out of 5
2,570 user ratings
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Comments

This is very close to how I prepare lentils, too, though I take a somewhat lazier approach. I buy pre-diced frozen mirepoix (which adds celery) at one of my local grocers. I usually slice garlic rather than finely mince. And nearly always, when I use fresh thyme, I simply toss in large sprigs that I later extract with the bay leaves. Some water often gets swapped out in favor of chicken or vegetable stock and/or a bit of white wine, and some fresh parsley and lemon finishes it off.

Simmered in chicken broth until creamy. Added chopped mushrooms. Served with grilled lamb chops. Heavenly combination, accompanied with good pinot noir or cores du rhone.

Turn cold left-overs into a salad by adding olive oil, vinegar, snipped chives and crumbled demi-sec goat cheese. Serve with cherry tomatoes.

I used the same amount of carrots, onions, garlic and seasoning but cut the lentils down to one cup. It was a much better ratio and I had a side that could feed four instead of ten.

These are far better than they have any right to be. I made no changes to the recipe, made as written with the intent of finishing up the rest of the thyme from the CSA. #noregrets

Took longer than 25 minutes to cook the lentils. More like 45–50 mins.

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