Warm Sausage and Lentil Salad

★★★☆☆
Serves: 4 Origin: Contemporary

Ingredients

  • Vinaigrette
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar30 ml red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, plus more for serving10 ml Dijon mustard, plus more for serving
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for serving90 ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for serving
  • Kosher saltKosher salt
  • PepperPepper
  • Salad
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped2 carrots, finely chopped
  • 1/2 small fennel bulb, finely chopped1/2 small fennel bulb, finely chopped
  • 1 1/4 pounds garlic sausages, preferably French570 g garlic sausages, preferably French
  • 1 1/2 cups green lentils, preferably du Puy (10 ounces)360 ml green lentils, preferably du Puy (10 ounces)
  • 2 shallots, halved2 shallots, halved
  • 3 thyme sprigs3 thyme sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup shelled walnuts (4 ounces)240 ml shelled walnuts (4 ounces)
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus more for serving60 ml chopped parsley, plus more for serving

Instructions

  1. Vinaigrette
  2. In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar with the mustard. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup of the olive oil, whisking constantly, until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Vegetables
  4. In a large nonreactive pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the carrots and fennel, and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Place the vegetables on a plate.
  5. Sausage and Lentils
  6. In the same pot, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until shimmering. Add the sausage, and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add the lentils, shallots, thyme, bay leaf, and 5 cups of water; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until the sausage is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Using tongs, remove the sausage to a work surface. Cover and cook the lentils until tender, about 15 minutes.
  7. Walnuts
  8. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the walnuts on a small rimmed baking sheet, and toast until browned, 8 to 9 minutes, tossing once halfway through. Let cool, and coarsely chop.
  9. Assembly
  10. Partially drain the lentils, leaving them saucy. Discard the shallots, thyme, and bay leaf. Add the carrots and fennel to the lentils, season with salt and pepper, and toss with the vinaigrette. Thinly slice the sausage, and add to the lentils. Stir in the 1/4 cup of parsley. Top with the walnuts, sprinkle with more parsley, and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with mustard.
Make Ahead: The recipe can be prepared through Step 3 and refrigerated overnight.
Wine Pairing: Light White — Sauvignon Blanc — crisp acidity that lifts greens and brightens a soup.
Source: Food & Wine, Laura Rege
wine-unreviewed