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Sauteed Salmon with Lentils

Giangi Townsend
50 minutes
4 servings
Beginner
We were in the mood for something new last night. As I am standing in my pantry and staring at the content, a box of lentils was just sitting there for the picking. Why not? Last time we had lentils was on New Years Day as a traditional Italian dish. We also wanted fish. Below recipe was inspired by Gourmet cook book blended with old favorite family recipe. Love the caramelized onions, love them. As I took my first bite of lentils I felt something was missing. I decided to try to sprinkle a bit of lemon juice with a drop of olive oil over the lentils, and the dish took a different dimension. The sweet gentle flavor of the onions was intensified. We have left over and I cannot wait to have the left overs for lunch today. Maybe I will add some fresh tomatoes…. A nice glass of Chardonnay was a perfect pairing. TIP: I am partial to green du Puy Lentils because, for me, I found them to cook best and not become to starchy. Make sure however that the lentils are rinsed well and picked over carefully.
Sauteed Salmon with Lentils

Total Steps

5

Ingredients

16

Tools Needed

5

Ingredients

  • 1 cup French du Puy Lentils, picked over and rinsed
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt(optional)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cloves large garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
  • pepper(optional)
  • 4 fillet 6 ounces salmon, skinned
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • olive oil(optional)
  • chopped parsley(optional)
  • lemon juice(optional)
  • lemon wedge(optional)

Instructions

1

Step 1

30 to 40 minutes

Place lentils, water, and 1 teaspoon salt in a saucepan and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook until the lentils are tender but not falling apart. Drain in a sieve set over a bowl and reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid.

2

Step 2

15 to 20 minutes

Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter over low heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, and salt. Cook covered until the onions are pale golden, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden.

3

Step 3

Stir the cooked lentils into the onion mixture along with the reserved ½ cup cooking liquid and heat through. Add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley, pepper to taste, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir gently to combine.

4

Step 4

5 to 8 minutes

Pat dry the salmon fillets and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. When the butter foam subsides, add the fish and cook, turning once. Be careful not to overcook, as it will dry out.

5

Step 5

When ready to serve, sprinkle a couple of drops of olive oil and a small squeeze of lemon juice over the lentils. This will accentuate the flavor of the caramelized onions.

Tools & Equipment

saucepan
heavy saucepan
sieve
bowl
large skillet

Tags

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