Lentils with Butternut Squash and Merguez Sausage

• 1 pound merguez sausage
• 1 medium onion, halved
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled, 3 finely chopped
• 1 carrot, cut into chunks
• 1 pound French green (Le Puy) lentils (2 1/4 cups), picked over and rinsed
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon Marash or Aleppo pepper (see Note)
• 1 teaspoon harissa
• 2 cups vegetable stock or water
• One 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
• Freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 375.
2. Place the merguez on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 25 minutes.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 onion half with the whole garlic cloves, the carrot and the lentils.
4. Add enough cold water to cover the lentils by 2 inches.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and simmer over moderately low heat until the lentils are just tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
6. Drain; discard the onion, carrot and garlic.
7. Meanwhile, in a large enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over moderately high heat.
8. Finely chop the remaining onion half and add it to the casserole along with the chopped garlicand a pinch of salt.
9. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened.
10. Add the squash, season with salt and cook, stirring frequently, until golden.
11. Add the cumin, paprika, Marash pepper and harissa and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
12. Stir in the vegetable stock and tomatoes andbring to a boil.
13. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the squash is tender, about 15 minutes.
14. Stir the lentils, jalapeno and lemon juice into the casserole and season with salt and pepper.
15. Transfer to a platter and top with the sausage.
16. Serve with lemon wedges.

sausage, onion, garlic, carrot, lentils, extravirgin olive oil, kosher salt, butternut squash, ground cumin, sweet paprika, pepper, harissa, vegetable stock, tomatoes, jalapeno, lemon juice, freshly ground pepper

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/lentils-butternut-squash-and-merguez-sausage (may not work)