Salmon With Bacon And Lentils

Salmon With Bacon and Lentils

Ingredients:

1 cup lentils 

1 onion, minced
1 carrot, peeled, finely chopped
4 2-inch-long orange peel strips (orange part only)
2 1/2 cups water                                                                                             

4 8-ounce salmon fillets, each cut crosswise into 3 pieces 

6 bacon slices, each cut crosswise in half

1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped chives or green onions
2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon

Directions:

1. 1. Combine lentils, onion, carrot and orange peel in heavy large saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. 
   2. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Discard orange peel. Return lentils to pan. Season lentils with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 say ahead. Cover and chill lentils and reserved cooking liquid separately.)
   3. Preheat oven to 450°F. Place salmon on baking sheet. Wrap 1 bacon strip around center of each salmon piece, arranging bacon ends on bottom. Bake salmon until opaque in center, about 8 minutes.
   4. Meanwhile, add enough reserved cooking liquid to lentils to moisten. Mix in cream, then parsley, chives and tarragon and bring to simmer. Spoon lentil onto plates. Top each with 3 salmon pieces in spoke fashion and serve.  Serves 4