TRY this recipe from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's new book, River Cottage Light & Easy.

INGREDIENTS
Serves 4

2 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
Leaves from 2 sprigs of rosemary
200g red lentils, well rinsed
500ml chicken or veg stock
8 skin-on, bone-in, free-range chicken thighs, or 1 medium chicken (about 1.75kg), jointed into 6-8 pieces
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flat-leaf parsley, chopped, to finish

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. 

Choose a flameproof casserole dish or a wide, ovenproof pan that will hold all the chicken pieces snugly but comfortably.

Put the casserole on a medium-low heat. Add the oil, then the onion and cook, stirring regularly, for six to eight minutes until it begins to soften. Add the garlic, rosemary and some salt and pepper. Cook gently for a further five minutes, then stir in the lentils and stock.

Season the chicken thighs and place skin side up in the casserole. You want most of the chicken skin to remain exposed above the liquid so it can brown in the oven. Bring to a simmer on the hob, then transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, for one hour. Check that the chicken is cooked through and the lentils are soft. If not, return to the oven for ten to 15 minutes and test again. Skim off any excess fat from the surface.

Taste the lentilly liquor and season if needed. Serve, scattered with chopped parsley, just as it is or with steamed broccoli or spring greens.

River Cottage Light & Easy by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is published in hardback by Bloomsbury, priced £25. For River Cottage food videos, visit rivercottage.net/food-tube