Best Truffled Lentils With Spanish Ham Recipes

LENTIL HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Stir chicken broth, water, carrots, celery, onion, lentils, garlic, and red wine vinegar together in a large stockpot; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook at a simmer until the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir ham, mustard, salt, and pepper into the soup; continue cooking until the lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes more.

FRENCH LENTILS WITH BOURBON-GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• 1. In a large saucepan, combine the lentils, carrots, shallots, celery, and bay leaves. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes. Add more water if the mixture is dry before the lentils are tender. 2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring the bourbon to a boil over medium heat. Add the ham, honey, and vinegar. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the ham is glazed, about 20 minutes. 3. Drain the lentils and transfer to a large bowl. Discard the bay leaves. Fold in the ham, mustard, and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

WARM FRENCH LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saute pan, add the leek and carrots, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute and set aside.
• Meanwhile, place the lentils, 4 cups of water, the onion with the cloves, and the turnip in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the lentils are almost tender. Remove and discard the onion and turnip and drain the lentils. Place them in a medium bowl with the leek and carrots, and add the butter.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the 1/4 cup of olive oil, the mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add to the lentils, stir well, and allow the lentils to cool until just warm, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve. The longer the lentils sit, the more salt and pepper you'll want to add.

LENTIL AND HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery, carrots, turnips and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start browning, about 8 minutes. Add the flour and thyme; cook, stirring, until the flour is incorporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in 4 cups hot water until smooth.
• Add the ham and the lentils with their liquid. Increase the heat to medium high and bring just to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low so the soup is gently simmering. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens slightly and the lentils are creamy, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the baguette cubes; sprinkle with the parsley and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 7 minutes. Serve the soup topped with the croutons.

HAM HOCK & LENTILS

Steps:

• Before starting the cooking process, first blanch the hocks to rinse away any impurities. To do this, just put the joints in a large saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 minute, then carefully move the pan to the sink and drain off the hot water. Refresh the hams under cold running water for a minute or so, then tip out the water.
• The cooking process can now begin. To the blanched hams in the pan, add the onion quarters, along with the quartered carrots and the celery sticks, the thyme and bay leaf. Pour in enough fresh cold water to cover and bring to a simmer. The pan can now be covered with its lid and the hams cooked, keeping the liquor at a gentle simmer for 3 hours.
• To check if hams are cooked, pull out the small bone close to the large one - it should be loose and come out easily. Rest hams in the stock for 15-20 minutes (30 minutes, ideally), so the meat softens and relaxes. Lift out the hams and set aside until cool enough to handle. Strain off 900ml/1½ pint ham stock into a jug and set aside. Reserve leftover stock.
• Now prepare the lentils. First blanch them by plunging them into a pan of boiling water, then drain into a sieve and refresh under the cold tap. This process not only rinses the lentils well, but it also speeds up the entire braising process.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the diced onion, carrot and celery, cover the pan and cook without colouring for 5-6 minutes. Tip in the blanched lentils, then pour in 900ml/1½ pint strained stock. Bring the lentils to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes - check occasionally and top up with more stock if needed - until tender. I prefer the braised lentils to have quite a loose final consistency without being over watery.
• About 10 minutes before the lentils are ready, strip off the skin and fat from the hams with a knife, then remove the meat from the bones and cut it into rough pieces or shred it with your fingers. To serve, add the shredded ham and the coarsely chopped parsley to the lentils, and season with a twist of pepper. If you think you need a little more liquid, simply stir in an extra ladle or two of strained stock.