Braised Lentils With Saffron Recipes

BRAISED BLACK LENTILS

Steps:

• Melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Cook and stir onion, carrot, celery, and salt until vegetables are softened and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add thyme sprigs and pepper. Stir in lentils until well coated. Add chicken stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, checking occasionally, until the lentils are tender and have absorbed all the liquid, about 35 minutes. Remove from heat and discard thyme stems. Stir in champagne vinegar and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

LENTIL AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Cook the lentils in salted water, covered, for 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Add the shallot, vinegar and olive oil and toss well. Set aside.
• Make the saffron aioli. Peel the garlic cloves and mash them with half a teaspoon of salt in a mortar and pestle. Add the egg yolk and mix in thoroughly. Gradually add the olive oil little by little beating continually until you have a thick emulsion (this can also be done in a blender). Add the vinegar by the tablespoon to thin the sauce.
• Soften the saffron in the warm water. Add it to the aioli and mix in with a chopstick or a small fork. Let it sit for an hour or so, refrigerated, to develop the flavor.
• Thoroughly wash and dry the arugula. Arrange the leaves either on an individual plate or a large serving dish and spoon the lentils in the center. Serve with the aioli.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Heat one tablespoon of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
• When the oil is hot, place the lamb shanks and season well with salt and pepper. You may work with two shanks at a time.
• Then brown the shanks well on all sides using a pair of tongs. It should take about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the seared lamb shanks and set aside.
• In the same skillet add the remaining oil and heat it. Then add the sliced onion and sauté until light golden brown.
• Next add the grated garlic and stir couple minutes. Add the Persian spice mix, and turmeric. Then turn of the heat.
• Transfer the lamb shanks and sautéed onion-spice mixture to a heavy bottomed cooking pot. Add the saffron water, lemon juice, bay leaves, thyme (or dill) and the lemon zest.
• Add about 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil, and then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 1½ to 2 hours until fork tender. The meat should be falling of the bone.
• Adjust the seasonings as per taste.
• Transfer the lamb shanks to a serving dish.
• Cook down the sauce further if it is too thin and then pour it over the lamb shanks. Or you may strain the sauce and then cook it. Discard the bay leaves.
• Tip: You may also cook this from start to finish in a dutch oven or a heavy bottomed pot that heats up well for browning the meat.
• Follow the same instructions as above.And cook the lamb shanks in the oven at 325 degrees F in an oven safe dish making sure to seal it well or use a fitting lid.
• Brown the lambs shanks and prepare the onion-spice-herb mixture. Transfer to slow cooker.
• Add the water and cook according to the instructions for about 4 to 5 hours at high or 6 to 8 hours at low setting.

STEAMED LENTILS WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils well.
• Heat the vegetable stock in a small pot.
• Meanwhile, in a different medium pot heat the olive oil.
• Add the onion and cook until translucent, 5 to 8 minutes, then add the prosciutto and cook for a few more minutes.
• Add the lentils, cook for another 2-3 minutes, and pour the white wine.
• Add the saffron and cook until the alcohol has evaporated, 4-5 minutes.
• Add the stock, salt to taste, and cook over low heat for 50 minutes to 1 hour, covered.
• Add water or more stock if necessary.

BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils and stir 1 minute. Add stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until lentils are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat a drizzle of oil in a heavy skillet or oven-proof pot set over medium-high heat. Season the ribs with salt and pepper and brown on all sides; set aside. Add the carrot to the pan and cook for a few minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Pour in the balsamic vinegar and cook for a minute, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Return the browned ribs to the pan with the vegetables. Add enough stock to come about halfway up the sides of the ribs. Cover and cook at 300F for 2 hours. Add the lentils to the pan, and a little more stock so that there's enough to generously cover the lentils, cover and return to the oven for another 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and the meat is very tender.
• Serve the ribs with the lentils, on mashed potatoes if you like. Serves 4-6.

BRAISED LENTILS WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Soak lentils for about 6 hours.
• Peel and halve the onion and place into a saucepan with 3 tablespoons oil and the ham.
• Drain the lentils and add them to the saucepan, brown breifly, then moisten with the wine.
• Add the saffron strands and powdered saffron.
• When the wine has evaporated, pour just enough hot stock to cover the lentils.
• bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• Taste and add salt if necessary, then discard the onion and serve hot.