Spicy sausage and lentil casserole

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
8 Italian-style pork sausages (at least 70 per cent meat content)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot (about 200g), diced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp chilli flakes
2 tsp ground cumin seeds
2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp tomato purée
100g red lentils
600ml good quality chicken stock
200g chopped tomatoes
150g cooked or canned puy lentils, rinsed and drained
3 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
8 Italian-style pork sausages (at least 70 per cent meat content)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot (about 200g), diced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp chilli flakes
2 tsp ground cumin seeds
2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp tomato purée
100g red lentils
600ml good quality chicken stock
200g chopped tomatoes
150g cooked or canned puy lentils, rinsed and drained
3 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley

Method

Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole (with a lid) over a medium-high heat, add the sausages and brown all over. Transfer to a plate, leaving the oil in the casserole.
Add the onion, carrot, garlic and chilli flakes to the casserole, cover and cook gently for 10 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
Take off the lid and stir in the cumin, paprika and tomato purée, then cook for 1 minute. Stir in the red lentils, chicken stock, chopped tomatoes and sausages and bring to a simmer, stirring to stop the lentils sticking to the base of the casserole.
Cover and simmer for 40 minutes until the sausages are tender, the lentils are cooked and the sauce is thick. If the sauce looks watery, cook for 10 minutes with the lid off to thicken it. Stir in the puy lentils and most of the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Scatter over the remaining parsley and serve with garlic bread, couscous or rice.

Method

Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole (with a lid) over a medium-high heat, add the sausages and brown all over. Transfer to a plate, leaving the oil in the casserole.
Add the onion, carrot, garlic and chilli flakes to the casserole, cover and cook gently for 10 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
Take off the lid and stir in the cumin, paprika and tomato purée, then cook for 1 minute. Stir in the red lentils, chicken stock, chopped tomatoes and sausages and bring to a simmer, stirring to stop the lentils sticking to the base of the casserole.
Cover and simmer for 40 minutes until the sausages are tender, the lentils are cooked and the sauce is thick. If the sauce looks watery, cook for 10 minutes with the lid off to thicken it. Stir in the puy lentils and most of the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Scatter over the remaining parsley and serve with garlic bread, couscous or rice.

delicious. tips

Add a squeeze of lemon juice and some baby leaf spinach to add more bite.
Cool, then chill for up to 3 days in a sealed container or food bag. Freeze in 4 foil containers (or one large one) and cook from frozen in a medium oven for at least one hour until piping hot.

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Read what others say...

Kay Hearth says:

9th Jan 2020 at 7:44 am

Very tasty, hearty casserole.
I had half a tin of baked beans leftover so added these as well, & some frozen spinach.
Definitely one to do again.

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