Stewed lentils with bacon are a hearty and very tasty dish that in this case we made with fresh bacon browned in a pan and then cooked with tomato sauce, a unique flavor that will make you fall in love, lentils then go perfectly with paprika which I used smoked because I like it so much but nothing prevents you from using sweet paprika, you will see what a fantastic combination of flavors.
Lentils with bacon are usually eaten as a side dish to cotechino or zampone for New Year’s but nothing prevents you from making it on other occasions, right? in fact, in my house, they are never missing in winter just like lentils with sausages a main course to lick your chops.
Then if you want a simple side dish with lentils try the braised lentils.
But without further ado, let’s find out right after the photo how to prepare the stewed lentils with bacon!!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients for stewed lentils with bacon
- 1 1/2 cups dried lentils
- 1 1/4 cups tomato sauce
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 stalk celery
- 1/2 lbs fresh bacon
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 pinches pepper
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- to taste chopped parsley
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Preparation of stewed lentils with bacon
To prepare the stewed lentils with bacon, first rinse the lentils very well under cold running water.
Then cook them in a pot with plenty of water without salt for half the time indicated on the package.
In the meantime, slice the fresh bacon into thick slices and then into pieces, chop the carrot, onion, and celery.
Cook the bacon in a large pan without adding fats until golden and it has released its fat.
Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery and let it sauté for 5 or 6 minutes.
Now add the tomato sauce, salt, and pepper, and dilute with a few tablespoons of hot water where you have dissolved the paprika.
When the lentils are half-cooked, drain them from the pot and add them to the pan with the sauce.
Continue cooking by adding more hot water as it dries out.
Taste to check the degree of doneness of the lentils, which should be cooked but not mushy.
Once cooking is complete, adjust for salt, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and a generous drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil, and..
ENJOY YOUR MEAL
Frequently asked questions that may help you
Can I use smoked bacon?
Sure, instead of fresh bacon you can use smoked bacon or even crumbled sausages.
Can I cook the lentils in advance?
Yes, you can cook them in advance as long as the cooking is not complete, that is, always leave them very al dente.
Where can I find smoked paprika?
Smoked paprika can be found in organic stores or in the ethnic sections of well-stocked supermarkets.
Other Recipes
If you want to see other types of recipes, you can return to the HOME.
