Prosciutto cotto literally means “cooked ham.” It’s a popular cold cut in Italy, that is brined pork hindquarter that has been slowly cooked with its skin on to retain moisture.
Prosciutto cotto usually contains less salt than cooked American ham which makes prosciutto a good recipe substitute.
Lentils are a small round lens-shaped legume that comes in various texture, taste, and colors like green, brown, black, yellow and red. Lentils are considered a staple in various cuisines globally.
The French Green Lentils are considered the most flavorful, having a delicate peppery taste.
They originated in Puy France, though today they are also grown in Canada (highest production) Italy and the United States.
The French variety lentil hold their shape well while only taking about 30 to 40 minutes to cook.
Red lentils break down faster than other types of lentils when cooked. The texture quickly becomes soft and creamy and because of that, they are most often used in soups and curries. Like with this Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, and Red Lentil Soup and this Lentil Soup With Curry & Coconut Milk.
Prosciutto Cotto and Lentils
2 medium stalks celery, diced
2 medium yellow carrots, diced
1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 small red onion chopped
1/2 cup tomato paste
4 1/2 cups broth, your choice beef – chicken – vegetable (Recipe Here For A Chicken Stock)
3/4 pound prosciutto cotto – about 2 slices 1/2 inch cut, cut into 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch squares
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons avocado oil
In a large soup pot over medium heat, add olive oil and minced garlic – sauté until fragrant.
Next add prepared onion – carrots and sweet potato and mix together.
Next add rinsed lentils and mix in. Then add tomato paste and stir being sure ever lentil is coated.
Add broth, place lid on pot and simmer 30 minutes or until lentils are cooked.
After 30 minutes there will be only about 1 cup or so of broth – drain and set aside – leave lentil mixture in soup pot.
In a warm pan with avocado oil add some prosciutto fat trimmed from the prosciutto cotto, add pork meat and sauté until meat is warmed.
Remove meat from heat and add to lentil mixture and mix in. Spoon Prosciutto Cotto and Lentils to a platter and serve.
Try These Delicious Dishes Made With Pork
More Deliciously Yummy Recipes
- Cooking With Rice
- Mango Chipotle Dressing
- Trofie Al Rosso Pesto
- Indian Ginger-Tomato Curried Kidney Beans
- Rosso Pesto (Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto)
We make things like this with lentils except thereis no meat at all. I did not know there was that much protein in lentils. 🙂
Me neither Jackie until I made this recipe and posted it. I would say with all that protein in the legume- meat is optional 👍🏼😃
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.