This Lentil Ragout is perfect under some Pan-Roasted Salmon (see recipe on this site) or makes a delicious vegetarian entrée served with a tossed salad. The ragout can be made ahead, and the flavors actually improve. The ragout also freezes beautifully, so make a big batch and freeze extras for another meal.

Use French green lentils in the recipe if you can find them. Otherwise, use brown lentils from the supermarket and leave out the step of soaking the legumes overnight.

• 1 pound French green (de Puy) lentils, soaked overnight in cold water, drained, and rinsed
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 3 large pieces
• 1 rib celery, cut in half
• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 fresh or dried bay leaves
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3-4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sherry or balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup very finely chopped onion
• 1 cup very finely chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup very finely chopped celery
• 2 tablespoons butter

Place lentils in a pot and cover with chicken stock by an inch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low. Add carrots, celery, onions, garlic, bay, thyme and salt. Cook until tender, about 30-45 minutes. Remove from heat, and remove carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay and thyme.  Stir in vinegar and parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat and add the chopped onion, carrots and celery, and sauté until tender. Stir into lentils.

Makes 6-8 servings.

*Standard supermarket brown lentils may be used instead of the French green lentils but require no overnight soak.