Roasted Salmon over French Lentils, Tomatoes, and Fennel

French green lentils are probably the most venerated of the lentils you will find at your supermarket-and for good reason. They have a robust, earthy flavor and a toothsome quality that few other lentil varieties possess. They are also very versatile, as they can stand up to heavy meat preparations. But in this recipe they add some interesting depth to a lighter preparation.
Serves6
CostInexpensive
Total Timeunder 2 hours
OccasionCasual Dinner Party, Formal Dinner Party
Recipe Coursemain course
Dietary Considerationegg-free, gluten-free, halal, kosher, peanut free, soy free, tree nut free
Mealdinner
Taste and Texturechewy, herby
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 small fennel bulb, cored, ends trimmed, and thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 pound fresh plum tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 1½ cups French green lentils (Ientilles du Puy)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 6 small salmon fillets, about 4 ounces each
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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Combine the oil, onion, fennel, tomatoes, marjoram, and thyme in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook, partially covered, stirring frequently, until the fennel is soft, about 15 minutes. Add the wine and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes longer. Add the stock, bring to a simmer, and stir in the lentils and garlic. Cook until the lentils are tender and the mixture has thickened, about 30 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper to taste and keep warm.
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Toss the salmon fillets with the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Place the fillets on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast until the fish is medium, about 10 minutes.
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Spoon the lentils into large, shallow bowls and top with the roasted salmon. Serve with the lemon wedges.
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2010 Dave Lieberman and Anahad O?Connor