Sausages with Quick Romesco Lentils

This hearty and flavorful dish is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. The lentils are cooked in a flavorful tomato-based sauce, and the sausages are browned to perfection. The romesco sauce adds a delicious nutty flavor to the dish.

Ingredients

* 1 pound dried lentils, picked over and rinsed * 1 tablespoon olive oil * 1 onion, chopped * 2 carrots, chopped * 2 celery stalks, chopped * 2 cloves garlic, minced * 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes * 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce * 1/2 cup water * 1 teaspoon dried oregano * 1 teaspoon dried thyme * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/4 teaspoon black pepper * 1 pound Italian sausages * 1/2 cup romesco sauce

Instructions

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. 3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. 4. While the lentils are cooking, brown the sausages in a large skillet over medium heat. 5. Once the lentils are done, stir in the sausages and romesco sauce. Cook for 5 minutes more, or until the sausages are heated through. 6. Serve hot with crusty bread or rice.

Tips

* For a vegetarian version of this dish, omit the sausages and add an extra 1/2 cup of lentils. * To make your own romesco sauce, combine 1/2 cup of roasted red peppers, 1/2 cup of roasted almonds, 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1/4 cup of bread crumbs, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor and blend until smooth. * This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to serve.