I thought I’d kick off the 2015 recipes with something I love while at the same time is extremely healthy.  Lentils, like beans, are full of fiber and protein and as such, they are very filling.  Using them is a great way to have a satisfying vegetarian meal.  You can simply cook lentils with water and a few vegetables or you can get as creative as you’d like with different stocks or wines.  They are also quite good with a bit of bacon or a ham hock if you’d prefer a dish with meat in it or something even heartier.  Here, I decided to keep it vegetarian and use red wine.  I chose red lentils simply because of the red wine to keep the color consistent.  There are a variety of colors available at most markets and any would work here.  Oh, and as a special bonus…lentils take much less time than beans to prepare.  Here, the lentils simmer for 10-20 minutes or so after they are brought to a boil.

PS: The recipe below is a very typical French preparation.   However, you can add or subtract vegetables as you prefer or based on what you have on hand.  I chose these because they are what I had on hand and all are consistent with a French approach to lentils.  Recipe with additional pictures follow after the jump… Continue reading →