What isThis hearty Lentil Spätzle Pork Mix is a Comforting Winter Delight. This delicious concoction combines brown lentils’ earthy richness with pork’s savory goodness. Furthermore, chewy homemade Spätzle adds comfort to the dish. Bursting with flavor and warmth, this dish will satisfy your cravings on a chilly evening.
What is Spätzle?
Spätzle, a traditional Germanmini-dumpling, adds a lovely texture to this dish. Spätzle originates from the Swabian region of Germany. It is made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, and milk or water. The dough is scraped or pressed through a special Spätzle press or a colander into boiling water. The result is irregularly shaped noodles with a tender bite.
To prepare Lentil Spätzle Pork Mix, soak brown lentils for at least 6 hours or overnight. This ensures they are tender and ready to impart their nutty flavor to the dish. Meanwhile, red onion and winter leeks are gently sautéed in fragrant olive oil until softened. Consequently, this provides an aromatic and flavorful base for the next ingredients.
Next, ground pork is added to the pan and cooked until beautifully browned. This infuses the mixture with its savory essence. Then comes the star of the show – the homemade Spätzle. These “little sparrows” add heft and comfort to the pork-vegetable medley. Each nugget of Spätzle acts as a delightful vehicle for soaking up the rich flavors of the dish.
Then, vegetable broth is poured into the mix. This creates a luscious sauce. Simmered until most of the liquid is absorbed, the result is a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
Serve this as a hearty side or as a main course. Furthermore, it is perfect for warming up during the winter months. Whether enjoyed with a crisp salad or simply on its own, Lentil Spätzle Pork Mix is as nourishing as it is delicious. So why not treat yourself to a bowlful of this delightful comfort food on your next chilly evening?
Lentil Spätzle Pork Mix
Ingredients
- 1.25 cups lentils
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large red onion
- 1.5 lbs ground pork
- 2 cups chopped leeks
- salt and pepper
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 cups Spätzle*
Instructions
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Soak the lentils in cold water for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
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Then drain and rinse thoroughly. Peel and dice onion.
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Trim and wash leeks and cut into rings.
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Heat olive oil in a skillet.
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Sauté onion until transparent.
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Add the leeks and sauté until soft.
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Stir in the ground pork and cook until browned.
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Stir in the Spätzle.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste
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Remove from heat and set aside.
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Bring the stock to a boil in a pot or Dutch oven
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Add the lentils.
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Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
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Add the pork mixture to the lentils.
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Bring the heat up to medium. Cook for another 10 minutes.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Remove from heat and serve.
Recipe Notes
*Spätzle:
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 eggs
1/4 cup seltzer
Directions:
Whisk together the flour, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
Add the eggs and seltzer and knead into a dough.
Cover the bowl with a dish towel and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Place a colander in the sink.
Use a spätzle press or colander with large holes to push the dough into the boiling water.
When the spätzle pop up to the surface, they are done.
Transfer to a colander with a slotted spoon to drain.
Like this Lentil Spätzle Pork Mix? Also, check out some of these other recipes:
PORK IN CHEESY ONION CREAM
BUTTERY HAZELNUT SPÄTZLE
CREAMY ORANGE MINT PORK
