Lentils

Lentil soup is the tastiest soup ever (but it makes you fart like a trouper) lol

Lentils boiled in water and drained, add grated carrots, turnip and onion and a few ham stock cubes. Sorted!
Or you can put actual ham in it to make it tastier. You have been warned about the wind :laugh:

Lentils do not make you fart like regular beans - they have much less (sulpher?) - whatever the fart ingredient is lol. They also take less time to cook, and they are high protein and moderate carb.
Delicious Curried Chicken Soup
I cover about 4 chicken thighs or 2 chicken hindquartes without skin (or you can use a whole chicken or left over bones with some meat) with water, salt, and boil for about an hour in a large to medium pot. I then add the lentils. About 1 cup lentils and 1 cup water is good. 1 potato diced, 1 onion diced, 2-4 tablespoons curry powder (add less if you don't like things to spicey), 1/2 cup raisens, 1 tablespoon chicken bullion, and 2 tablespoons of diced ginger.
Simmer about 30-40 minutes. Pick out chicken bones (I leave the chicken bones in till the end because they add calcium, magnesium, and flavor.). You can add water if needed if you like a thinner soup (I do). I like to serve it with a big dollop of full fat plain yogurt.
It's really really good and only about 300 calories for a big bowl.

This is the BEST recipe. So easy, so good. I make huge batches and freeze. It's so filling because of the protein and fiber, but ridiculously low-cal. Sometimes I make it for boys who refuse to eat food that doesn't have meat in it, so I add shredded chicken, and they love it. For a completely vegetarian option, can switch the chicken broth to veg broth.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/lentil-soup-2/

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i love Menestra, its a typical dish here in Ecuador.
It's usually served with white rice, fried ripe plantains, avocado slices and grilled chicken breast or a steak or fish or just a fried egg..
Pretty easy to make and I like to make a whole lot of it and freeze it!

300g dry lentils
1 big onion, chopped
2-3 really ripe tomatoes, chopped (or for convenience tomatoe paste)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
salt, a tiny little bit of cumin

1. put the lentils into a huge sauce pan, cover with water and let sit over night
2. take your sauce pan, add about 1-1.5inches water (or if you like it more liquid go for even more) and boil for 1 hour
3. heat a bit of oil in a small sauce pan, put onions, tomatoes and garlic in and cook for about 20min stirring occasionally or till not that chunky anymore
4. add salt and cumin
5. add tomatoe mix to lentils and cook for 45min
6. taste and if needed add more tomatoe paste. thats what I usually do, cause it changes the taste A LOT.
(some people even add red bell pepper, chopped cilantro and bacon to it)

and here pic of it. doesnt look that yummy but i assure you it is!

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd241/tototo84/DSC02167.jpg

hope you enjoy it

Oh yes, hippie food. A staple from the 60s and 70s. Use them in everything to replace mince meat: burgers, soups, spag bol, lasagne. They are delicious.

...and it STINKS (like a preteen boy) until it is cooked.

:laugh: OMG! You made my day. :laugh:

I make lentil dhal with them - it's similar to Anja's recipe above, but has chilli and coriander in it, and sometimes no tomatoes. It's supposed to be dressed with onion fried in ghee, but I don't do that bit, as nice as it is. I have that with chapatis or rice.

I'll definitely be trying the Ecuador recipe though, sounds delicious.

Jaimie oliver has a few good recipes on his website

The only thing I really cook with lentils is a curry lentil soup. But I do add lentils to any minced beef dish for the fibre and to bulk it up. I taught my add kids to eat lentils by adding more and more of it to rice.