Smitten's Winter Potato Salad w/ Lentils

I love me a winter potato salad and I LOVE this recipe.

It just makes more sense to eat warm potato salads in the cold weather.

The dressing here is like a gribiche sauce minus the chopped egg, but I think a chopped hard boiled egg or 2 would be fabulous. Next time.

This salad has no mayo, and uses healthy lentils, so it is a fiber packed lunch, as well as a nice side dish to accompany grilled sausages.

Anything with capers and cornichons makes me happy.

Winter Potato Salad w/ Lentils: (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

2 large shallots, 1 halved, 1 finely diced,
4 sprigs of thyme
1 small bay leaf
1 cup dry small green lentils (I like lentils du puy)
1 small bay leaf
Salt and pepper
1 pound fingerling potatoes
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced or smashed to a paste (I use less)
1 tablespoon smooth Dijon mustard
1/4 cup of your favorite olive oil
2 teaspoons capers, rinsed if salted, drained if brined, and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons cornichons or other sour gherkins, roughly chopped
1 to 2 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Cook lentils: Pick over and rinse lentils. Place them in a small/medium saucepan with the halved shallot, thyme branches, bay leaf, some salt and 4 cups of water. Simmer the lentils over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes, until firm-tender. Drain (discarding shallot, thyme and bay leaf) and keep warm.

Make the dressing: Place the chopped shallot and red wine vinegar in the bottom of a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk in minced garlic, dijon, a pinch of salt, a few grinds of black pepper and olive oil. Stir in chopped capers, chopped pickles and scallions.

Meanwhile, cook potatoes: In a separate saucepan, cover potatoes with 1 to 2 inches cold water. Cook potatoes 20 minutes, test with a fork for doneness.

Cut into 1/2" slices while still warm and add to the lentils in a large bowl.

Pour in dressing over warm potatoes and lentils and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

See, winter is good for some things.