Lentils And Tomato Sauce With Pasta Shells Recipes

STEWED LENTILS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, carrots and fennel and cook over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
• Meanwhile, rinse and pick over the lentils to make sure there are no stones in the package.
• Add the tomatoes, lentils, chicken stock, curry powder, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pan. Raise the heat to bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer covered for about 40 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Check occasionally to be sure the liquid is still simmering. Remove from the heat and allow the lentils to sit covered for another 10 minutes. Add the vinegar, season to taste, and serve hot.

PASTA AND LENTILS (PASTA E LENTICCHIE)

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 5 cups of water, the lentils, the thyme and bay leaves (if using). Partially cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are al dente, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over high. Add the pasta and cook, stirring often to keep the pasta from sticking to the pot, until the pasta is al dente, 10 to 20 minutes. (It may take longer than the cook time on the package.) If the pot starts to look dry at any point, add more water, 1/4 cup at a time.
• Turn off the heat, discard the thyme and bay leaves, then stir in the Parmesan. Cover and let sit for 3 minutes so the flavors meld and the sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Eat with more Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

LENTILS AND TOMATO SAUCE WITH PASTA SHELLS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Cook the onion, garlic, sage, salt and pepper, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and hot pepper sauce, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until the spoon scraped across the bottom of the pan leaves a gap that fills in slowly, about 20 minutes.
• Add the lentils and heat through, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until tender but firm, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, drain and return to the pot.
• Add the sauce, parsley and enough of the reserved liquid to moisten.
• Toss to coat.
• Serve sprinkled with Asiago cheese.

HEARTY RED LENTIL PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, green peppers, and carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for one more minute.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, wine (if using), lentils, and honey. Stir to incorporate. Heat until the mixture comes to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer sauce for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
• Stir in parsley. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve as desired.
• Keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

SPAGHETTI WITH LENTILS, TOMATO AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Rinse lentils. Put them in a saucepan and cover with water by 1 inch. Toss in Parmesan rind, if using. Add a good pinch of salt and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain lentils and reserve cooking water.
• As lentils cook, put 3 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is wavy, add diced onion and fennel, and season with salt and pepper. Add fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until softened and slightly caramelized, about 10 minutes.
• Add garlic, passata and 2 or 3 tablespoons finely chopped fennel fronds. Stir to combine and add drained lentils. Turn heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes or so, until somewhat thickened. Taste and correct seasoning, then cook for 5 minutes more, so the flavors meld. Add lentil cooking water as necessary to keep everything saucy.
• As sauce cooks, set a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente. Divide among individual bowls and ladle sauce over each serving. Top with shavings of ricotta salata and more chopped fennel fronds. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.