Trying Lentils .... HelP!~!

KanCrav

I used to HATE beans and anything that slightly resembled a bean. But I am trying to grow up and learn healthy things, I taught myself how to drink hot tea with no sugar and to like bananas and to like oatmeal (thanks meag)... soo, Im trying BEANS!~!~!

Im not read for a real bean yet... so Im trying lentils. What can I do with them? I see that there are two different colors, does that mean anything with flavor or cooking or anything???? I am up to try anything!~! I am going to look some things up online but I would like to hear from you all and see what you think of them.

Thanks for all the help!~!

Tankplanker

Before I started on my current weight loss journey I'd never eat fruit or veg let alone lentils, so I feel for where you are coming from.

I've recently gotten into lentils via lentil soup and I quite like them in a stew. Not quite ready for lentil casserole yet but I am getting there.

I use a mixed bag of green and orange lentils.

Now to try out the miracle that is cottage cheese!

hsnider29

I think there are different kinds of lentils but the only two I'm familiar with are red lentils and brown lentils. I believe once you cook the red lentils they lose their shape and are mushier than traditional lentils. The only way I've ever cooked the brown lentils is to make lentil chili. I found the recipe on the Whole Foods website. It is delicious and filling. I make it all the time now and eat it for days. Also, lentils don't have to be soaked like other beans and take a lot less time to cook and are full of protein! Hope this helps!

wingchunrick

I make dhals out of all different types of pulses. Full of protein, low fat and so tasty. It's like a vegetarian curry and lovely with chapati's too.

Missjulesdid

Lentils are like little raindrops of happiness from heaven.. I love them! There are a few different kinds of lentils. The most popular are the green/brown lentils and the other lentils are red lentils. You can buy the red lentils either whole or split. When they are split they actually look orange.

I created a recipe for split red lentils that I make at least once a week.

In 4 quart pot put a table spoon of olive oil. Add 1 cup of chopped onions, 2-4 finely chopped carrots, 1 large stalk of finely chopped celery. Stir it all up until the onions get a little translucent. Add a few cloves of crushed garlic. fry and stir until you get that nice garlic smell (maybe two minutes)

Take a cup of split red lentils and rinse them off and then put them in the pot with the vegetables Add four cups of vegetable stock (or you can use water and put two maggi stock cubes but I don't like those because they have MSG)

Simmer for around 20-30 minutes until the lentils form a nice thick soup. Add 2-3 more cups water if it's getting too thick. Add 2 cups of frozen chopped spinach cook for 6 more minutes. Add pepper, paprika and if necessary salt to taste. (your vegetable stock usually already has some salt so take it easy)

Ladle the soup into bowls and squeeze lemon or lime into your bowl just before serving. SO GOOD..

Missjulesdid

Wing, I used to like to make a paki-burrito with the brown lentils. some ground turkey and brown lentils and onion, cilantro, garlic and a touch of the red curry powder... then wrap it up in a freshly made whole wheat chipati. soooooo goooooood.. also when I make the chipati, I don't use ghee I use a bit of canola oil instead.. same calories but less saturated fat.