Puy lentils with salmon

Recipe for TiffinWalli By Lucy Jessop (ANutr)

Serves 6

Total time 40-45 mins

½ tbsp rapeseed oil

1 large onion

1 carrot 

1 stick of celery

3 cloves of garlic

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 bay leaf

300g dried puy lentils

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes

½ vegetable stock cube

Bunch of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

6 fresh salmon fillets

Lemon wedges, to serve

Extra virgin olive oil, to serve 

1. Heat the oil in a deep sauté pan. Finely chop the onion, carrot and celery. Add to the pan, stir and cover with a lid. Cook over a low-medium heat for 5 minutes until softened. Stir now and then.

2. Meanwhile, finely chop or grate the garlic. After 5 minutes, stir in the garlic, tomato puree and bay leaf. Cook for 2-3 mins.

3. Preheat the oven to 200C, fan 180C, gas 6. 

4. Add the dried lentils, tomatoes and crumble in the stock cube. Fill the empty tomato tin with cold water and tip into the pan. Top up with more water to just cover the lentils. Season with black pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, loosely cover with a lid and simmer gently for at least 15 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. When they are ready, stir through the parsley and adjust the seasoning to taste. 

5. Place the salmon fillets on a lightly oiled baking tray/line with parchment. Season the salmon. Add grated lemon zest here, or brush with  little pesto or harissa paste. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until cooked through. 

6.  Serve the lentils with the salmon and a drizzle of olive oil if you like. 

About this recipe

• Budget friendly

• Find many ingredients in the store cupboard

• Good for Batch-cooking – freeze leftovers

• Healthy

• Balanced

• Low in saturated fat

• Contains healthy omega-3-fats in the salmon – which is good for heart health.

• High in vegetables – onion, carrot, celery, tomatoes – providing a variety of important vitamins and antioxidants as well as fibre. All contributing to your 5 a day.

• Lentils are a plant-based source of protein and high in fibre. They also count as one of your 5 a day. To make this recipe feed more – add another tin of drained lentils.

• Fibre – this recipe contains plenty of fibre which is key for helping to combat high cholesterol and prevent Type 2 diabetes. Its also important for maintaining a healthy digestive system and reducing risk of colon cancer. 

• Protein and fibre can help us feel fuller for longer, preventing hunger and reducing the likelihood of craving sugary snacks.