Cod with Lentils Recipe - Great British Chefs

Main
easy
4
1 hour 10 minutes

PT1H10M

A beautifully simple dish from Eric Chavot, this rustic cod with lentils recipe is a true Winter warmer. Pancetta adds salty depth to the puy lentils, and is a good balance for the delicate cod fillets on top.

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Ingredients

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Metric

Imperial

Cod

4 cod fillets, each weighing 150g
olive oil
salt to season
black pepper to season

Lentils

300g of puy lentils
2 carrots, diced
1 onion, diced
1 celery stick, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
150g of pancetta
10g of butter
10ml of vegetable oil
salt
pepper

To serve

50g of pancetta
10ml of sherry vinegar
50g of baby carrots, sliced and pre-boiled
1 bunch of spring onions, sliced
10g of butter
10ml of olive oil

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Muslin cloth

Method

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Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4

For the lentils, heat the oil and butter in a frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and sweat for 15 minutes

2 carrots, diced
1 onion, diced
10ml of vegetable oil
10g of butter

Add the garlic, thyme, bay leaf, celery and pancetta. Sweat for 5 minutes, then drain to remove any excess fat

1 celery stick, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
150g of pancetta

Line a large bowl with a piece of muslin cloth and pour all of the cooked ingredients into the bowl. Tie the muslin loosely to encase the ingredients before adding to a large pan. Add the lentils, cover with water then bring to the boil. Turn the heat down and leave to simmer for 30 minutes

300g of puy lentils

Once the lentils are cooked, season with salt and pepper and leave to cool. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze the muslin bag over a bowl to catch all of the juices. Discard the muslin and vegetables and reserve the juices

salt
pepper

Place a frying pan over a high heat and add oil. Once hot, add the pancetta and fry for 1-2 minutes, then pour in the sherry vinegar to deglaze

50g of pancetta
10ml of olive oil
10ml of sherry vinegar

Add the lentils and pre-boiled carrots to the pan with a splash of the reserved cooking juices. Finish with the butter, olive oil and spring onions and keep to one side while you cook the cod

50g of baby carrots, sliced and pre-boiled
10g of butter
1 bunch of spring onions

Season the fillets of cod and place skin-side down onto a baking tray. Cook in the oven for 4-5 minutes until cooked through

4 cod fillets
salt to season
black pepper to season

Remove the fish from the oven, carefully flip the cod over and leave to rest for a few minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and then serve onto plates with the lentils

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Eric Chavot

Eric Chavot’s cuisine has been championed by fellow chefs, diners and critics alike – not bad for a chef who arrived in London without a word of English and just twenty pounds in his pocket.