Spicy Italian Sausage And Lentil Casserole

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup black beluga lentils
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 hot italian sausage links
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 (8 ounce) package crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 eggplant, chopped
• 1 small hot pepper, chopped
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Ready Time: 45 mins


• combine lentils, water, and salt in a large pot; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
• while the lentils cook, heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. cook and stir onion in hot oil until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. add sausage links to the pot; cook until browned completely, 3 to 5 minutes per side. stir garlic into the onion mixture; cook and stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. add mushrooms, eggplant, and hot pepper to the pot; season with salt and black pepper. pour diced tomatoes over the vegetable mixture. place a cover on the pot and cook at a simmer until the sausage is no longer pink the middle, about 10 minutes.
• remove the sausages from the vegetable mixture to a cutting board; cut into chunks and stir into the lentils. stir vegetable mixture into the lentils. cover pot and cook until the vegetables are tender and the flavors blend, about 5 minutes.