Lentils with Italian Sausage

Serves 6

This is said to be a traditional Italian New Year’s dish. The coin-shaped lentils are supposed to bring good fortune. All I know is, it smells wonderful in preparation, tastes great on the spoon.

3 slices bacon, cut into ½ inch squares

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 medium carrots, in ¼ inch slices

2 ½ cups water

1 bay leaf

1 pound/500g mild Italian sausages

1 cup lentils

2 cups tightly packed, finely chopped swiss chard leaves, stems removed

½ tsp salt

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Chopped Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

1. In a deep 6-quart pot, combine onion, bacon, and carrots. Cook over medium heat about 10 minutes until onion is lightly browned.
2. Add water, bay leaf and sausages. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook about 10 minutes.
3. Sort and wash lentils. Add to the pot, cover and cook for about 30 minutes.
4. Lift out sausages and keep warm. When you have a moment, slice them into ½ inch pieces.
5. Stir chard into lentil mixture and cook uncovered until chard is tender, about 5 minutes.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste

Serving: Either add sausages to the pot before serving or serve the sausages on top of the lentil mixture. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Source: "Safeway Select Magazine", December 2002

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