French style Braised Lentils - Lavender and Lovage

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon duck fat (or oil of your choice)
• 1 carrot (peeled and finely diced)
• 1 celery rib (stick) (trimmed and finely diced)
• 1 onion (peeled and finely diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (peeled and finely diced)
• 125g smoked lardons (or smoked streaky bacon finely diced)
• 450g Puy lentils
• sprig of fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon cider apple vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 litre water
• salt and pepper to taste