Salmon With Lentils

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 lb french green lentil
• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for salmon
• 2 cups chopped yellow onions
• 2 cups chopped leeks, and light green parts only
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leave
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
• 1 1/2 cups chopped celery (4 stalks)
• 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots (3 carrots)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons good red wine vinegar
• 4 (8 ounce) center-cut salmon fillets, skin removed

Recipe

• 1 place the lentils in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. set aside for 15 minutes, then drain.
• 2 meanwhile, heat the oil in a saute pan, add the onions, leeks, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
• 3 add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
• 4 add the drained lentils, celery, carrots, chicken stock, and tomato paste. cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
• 5 add the vinegar and season, to taste.
• 6 preheat the oven to 450 degrees f.
• 7 for the salmon, heat a dry oven-proof saute pan over high heat for 4 minutes.
• 8 meanwhile, rub both sides of the salmon fillets with olive oil and season the tops very liberally with salt and pepper.
• 9 when the pan is very hot, place the salmon fillets seasoning-sides down in the pan and cook over medium heat without moving them for 2 minutes, until very browned.
• 10 turn the fillets and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the salmon is cooked rare.
• 11 spoon a mound of lentils on each plate and place a salmon fillet on top.
• 12 serve hot.