warm lentils with mozzarella di bufala

On a recent January day, in search of a hearty meal to satisfy our looming hunger, my friend and I happened upon Granger & Co. in London’s Notting Hill. There, as you may remember from last week’s post, I savored a warm lentil salad with creamy mozzarella di bufala. It hit the spot. Warm, earthy lentils, soft, creamy mozzarella di bufala, and sweet, fresh mint with a sprinkling of fruity extra virgin olive oil. So simple, yet so wonderfully flavorful.

Looking to replicate my meal at home, I asked the waitress if she knew how the kitchen had prepared the lentils. With vegetable stock, she said. It seemed so apparent, yet it hadn’t crossed my mind. The vegetable stock added a depth of flavor that I never would have achieved by simmering the lentils in plain water. So, I took the idea back to my New York kitchen and prepared an aromatic vegetable broth, cooked a cup of lentils, tossed them with olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper, and topped them with mozzarella di bufala, mint leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. It was perfect. Just as flavorful and just as comforting, especially in the warmth of my own home.

Warm Lentils with Mozzarella di Buffala (inspired by Granger & Co.)

1 cup lentils
3 cups vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
4 1/2 oz mozzarella di bufala
Fresh mint
Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the lentils and the bay leaf, turn to low heat, and simmer for 30 with the lid on. Drain any excess water.

In a medium bowl, toss the lentils with 1 tbsp of olive oil, white wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Divide lentils among bowls. Arrange mozzarella di bufala over the lentils, garnish with a handful of fresh mint leaves, drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Note: Bill Granger has a similar recipe in his cookbook Bill’s Basics, which is a lentil, beetroot and celery fattoush with labna.

Tagged as: Bill Granger, buffalo mozzarella, Granger & Co., lentils, London, mint, mozzarella di bufala