Lentils

One of my favorite lentil things is soup but you can use them in side dishes and salads too. They can be eaten hot or cold.

Lentil chili is really good. Basically just your favorite chili recipe but substitute lentils for the meat.

i made up this recipe a few weeks ago. SOO Good! it was a total hit at the house

Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes
Yeilds 5 Servings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup lentils
1/2 cup onions, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
2 oz baby bella mushrooms, chopped
1/2 small zucchini, diced
2 cloves garlic
1 cup "no salt added" tomato sauce (i used Francesco Rinaldi brand)
1 tbsp ketchup
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dijon mustard
pepper
red pepper flakes
paprika
chili powder
parsley

Procedure:
1. Bring a pot of water to boil and cook lentils about 20-25 minutes (until tender).
2. Mean while, in a large skillet cook onions, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini and garlic until tender.
3. Add tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard and worcestershire sauce it vegetable mixture.
4. Season to taste with the above listed seasonings.
5. Let vegetable and tomato sauce mixture simmer on low heat until lentils are done. If mixture looks too think add in some of the lentil cooking water. (I used about 3-4 tablespoons).
6. Drain the lentils and add them to the vegetable mixture. Cook for a few more minutes for the flavors to combine and ENJOY!!

Makes 5 Servings
Serving size = 1/2 cup

Nutritional Info
82 Calories
18 Carbs
1g Fat
109mg of Potassium
5g Fiber
112mg of Sodium

So it's meatless chili?

Yes, it's meatless...

Ingredients
3/4 cup dry lentils, cleaned
2 cups chicken broth or 2 cups vegetable broth or 2 cups beef broth
1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 -3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 (16 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups whole kernel corn


Directions:

1 Combine everything (except tomato sauce and corn) in 2 1/2 quart pot and boil over high heat.
2 Reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 25- 30 minutes.
3 Stir in tomato sauce and corn.
4 Simmer for 10- 15 minutes.
5 Serve hot!

I omit the corn and add carrots and sometimes zucchini. Its versatile and can be changed up any way you like. The last time I made it was about 93 calories a cup so you can eat a whole lot of it!

The chili and sloppy joes sound good!

But...and nobody laugh...what is a lentil and where do you find them?

Thinking the same thing...

Lentil Tacos..SOOO YUMMY!

Ingredients

* 1 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 teaspoon canola oil
* 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
* 1 cup salsa
* 12 taco shells
* 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
* 1 cup chopped fresh tomato
* 1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
* 6 tablespoons fat free sour cream

Directions

1. In a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the lentils, chili powder, cumin and oregano; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Uncover; cook for 6-8 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Mash lentils slightly.
2. Stir in salsa. Spoon about 1/4 cup lentil mixture into each taco shell. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream.

oh fyi i use soft tacos because its easier with the lentil mixture than hard shell in my opinion!

The March issue of Clean Living had ways to use left over lentils. The Lentil Walnut Pate was very good.

1 cup cooked lentils
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1 clove garlic
salt
pepper
Olive oil

Grind walnuts in the food processor. Add the lentils and garlic. Add the olive oil 1 Tbsp at a time through the hole in the feeding tube. Process until it is a smooth consistence add salt and pepper to taste.

The chili and sloppy joes sound good!

But...and nobody laugh...what is a lentil and where do you find them?

Lentils are a legume and you almost always have to buy them dried. They should be near the dried beans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentil

Thanks! I will look the next time I am at the grocery store.