MUSTARD-CRUSTED PORK WITH CARROTS AND LENTILS

SERVES 4

• ACTIVE TIME:10 MIN
• START TO FINISH:35 MIN

• 1 lb precut fresh carrot sticks
• 5 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 (1 1/4-lb) pork tenderloin
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, divided
• 1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 (15-oz) cans lentils, rinsed and drained
• 2/3 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

• Preheat oven to 425ºF with rack in middle.
• Toss carrots with 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a shallow baking pan and roast while preparing pork.
• Pat pork dry and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown pork all over, about 3 minutes total.
• Put pork on a work surface and brush with 1 tablespoon mustard. Stir together bread crumbs and 1/2 tablespoon oil, then press onto mustard on pork to form a crust.
• Transfer pork to pan with carrots and roast until carrots are browned and tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of meat registers 140 to 145ºF, 15 to 22 minutes. Let pork stand 5 minutes; keep carrots warm, covered (or continue roasting if needed).
• While pork roasts, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil with garlic and thyme in a small saucepan until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in lentils, broth, and remaining tablespoon mustard and cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper and discard thyme. Serve pork with carrots and lentils.

Orecchiette with Lentils, Onions, and Spinach

Lentils are way under-appreciated. Especially for vegetarian cooking, they offer a delicious source of protein, texture, and rich earthy flavors. Granted, they might take a little while to cook, but they are always well worth it. We’ve done plenty of lentil soups and stews, salads and even sandwiches, but this is the first pasta I’ve seen that utilizes these nutritious legume. Apparently, lentils have the 3rd highest levels of protein in a plant, right behind soybeans and hemp.

As far as varieties of lentils, our supermarket only carries one, the precise variety of which I am unsure. They are little khaki colored brownish things, so I’m assuming they are the common brown lentil (I’m a genius, I know). We’ve also found the red variety at an International Foods store, though I don’t recommend substituting the red ones in this dish: the reds cook much quicker and you might end up with a pot of mush. Have some red lentils lying around? Try this easy and delicious red lentil soup. I have yet to find actual French Green Lentils (though I admit I haven’t looked all that hard), but the brown ones worked just fine in this recipe (just be cautious not to overcook them – they can get mushy, fast!)

This dish was surprisingly hearty, yet still fresh and delicious. Definitely something we’ll be making again.

Orecchiette with Lentils, Onions, and Spinach

Makes 6 servings. Recipe from Epicurious.

INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup olive oil
3 large onions (2 pounds total), thinly sliced (7 cups)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
1 cup French green lentils
1 pound orecchiette, fusilli, or penne
2 (5-ounce) bags baby spinach
1 1/2 ounces finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons)

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then stir in onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Reduce heat to moderately low and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until onions are very tender and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard bay leaf.

While onions cook, cover lentils with water by 1 inch in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan and boil over moderate heat, covered, until lentils are just tender and most of water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and let stand, covered, until ready to use.

Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander and return pasta to pot.

Add onions, lentils, and spinach to pasta, then toss with just enough reserved cooking water to wilt spinach and moisten pasta. Add cheese and salt and pepper to taste, tossing to combine.