GialloZafferano's Recipe of the Day: Pasta and Lentils

Pasta and Lentils, a hearty Italian dish, brings together tender pasta, lentils and a savory base of vegetables and smoked pancetta. Rosemary and thyme add their fragrance as the lentils simmer, while grated Parmigiano Reggiano finishes each bowl. It’s an easy, warming main course to share with family or friends on a cool evening.

• Ditaloni rigati pasta 3 cups (350 g)
• Lentils 7 oz (200 g)
• Smoked pancetta 2.8 oz (80 g)
• Tomato purée 3.5 oz (100 g)
• Carrots 2.8 oz (80 g)
• Onions 2.8 oz (80 g)
• Celery 2.1 oz (60 g)
• Vegetable broth 4 ¼ cups (1 l)
• Fresh garlic 1 clove
• Rosemary 1 sprig
• Thyme 1 sprig
• Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese 0.35 cup (40 g) - to be grated
• Dried chili pepper ¼ tsp (1 g)
• Extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp (30 g)
• Fine salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

1. Heat the filtered vegetable broth. Chop the onion, celery and carrot, then add them to a large saucepan with the oil and peeled garlic clove.
2. Deglaze with a ladle of broth and let the vegetables stew. Meanwhile, cut the pancetta into cubes and add it to the saucepan.
3. Mix well, then remove the garlic clove with tongs. Rinse the lentils under running water in a sieve and add them to the saucepan.
4. Add the chopped dried chili pepper, tomato purée, rosemary and thyme. Tie the herb sprigs together with kitchen twine if you like, so they’ll be easier to remove.
5. Add enough broth to cover the mixture well, then cover the saucepan and cook over low heat for about 40 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Remove the herbs and add the pasta.
6. Add a few ladles of broth and cook the pasta for about ten minutes. If you prefer a more brothy consistency, add more broth once the pasta is ready.
7. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the grated Parmesan, adding half a ladle of broth to help mix in the cheese if needed. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

Stir the pasta occasionally as it cooks to help keep it from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. If you’d like to skip the pancetta, you can use Parmesan rinds to add flavor instead.