Ingredients

  • 3 medium red or gold beets, trimmed and scrubbed
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 small carrots, 1 quartered and 1 finely diced
  • 1 medium Spanish onion, quartered
  • 1 small stalk celery, quartered
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme, plus 2 teaspoons finely chopped
  • 1 quart chicken stock, homemade (page 240) or store-bought
  • 1 1/4 cups dried French green lentils
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 pound slab bacon, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 3 ounces chopped frisee or mixed greens
  • Sherry Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
  • 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices fresh goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • (makes 3/4 cup)

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Put each beet on its own piece of aluminum foil.
  • Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil.
  • Wrap the beets tightly, place on a baking sheet, and roast in the oven until cooked through, about 1 hour.
  • Remove the beets from the oven, let cool slightly, and then remove the skins.
  • Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
  • Place the quartered carrot, onion, and celery and the bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and chicken stock in a medium saucepan.
  • Bring to a boil, stir in the lentils, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes.
  • Drain well and discard the carrot, onion, celery, bay leaf, and thyme.
  • Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan over medium heat, add the bacon, and cook until crisp and golden brown, about 8 minutes.
  • Transfer the bacon with a slotted spoon to a dish lined with paper towels.
  • Add the garlic and diced carrot to the pan and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the cooked lentils and bacon and stir to combine.
  • Stir in the chopped thyme and sherry vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Keep warm.
  • Place the frisee in a large bowl, toss with half of the vinaigrette, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Arrange the roasted beets around the outside of 4 dinner plates and the frisee in the centers.
  • Top the frisee with the warm lentils and place a slice of goat cheese on top of each.
  • Drizzle the salads with the remaining vinaigrette.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, and honey in a small bowl.
  • Season with the salt and pepper.
  • Slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified.
  • The dressing can be made 1 day in advance and stored in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.
  • Bring to room temperature before using.