Lentils

GillianLF
GillianLF Posts: 410 Member
edited November 24 in Recipes
How do you best eat lentils? Any recipes that you would recommend?

They seem to be a cheap healthy food that I would like to have more of but I'm not sure how to go about it.
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Replies

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I haven't found a recipe I totally love yet. They don't need pre-soaking. Sometimes I add them to a soup near the end for extra texture.

    Here's a classic recipe, Lentils and Lamb. Which could easily be converted to lentils and ham, or lentils and chicken. You get the drift.
  • GillianLF
    GillianLF Posts: 410 Member
    Oh that sounds ok. I've used them once in a casserole and they just thickened it. I must have added them for too long. Nice flavour though.
  • Unknown
    edited September 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • TinyTexn59
    TinyTexn59 Posts: 96 Member
    Lentils can be used in tacos, wraps and salads. I cook them in vegetable broth. Brown an onion and some mushrooms in a skillet then toss in two cups cooked lentils and a packet of taco seasoning and a cup of petite tomatoes. Fill wraps or tortillas with lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Nice tacos.
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    I've made this before and it's super easy and delicious.... http://www.reveal.co.uk/lifestyle/recipes/a622848/river-cottage-light--easy-recipe-for-chicken--lentil-casserole.html

    Perfect comfort-food for the first day of Autumn. :)
  • chandramiller68
    chandramiller68 Posts: 189 Member
    I like making lentil soup. I've made this recipe a lot, but tweaked it to my liking. I have never added the vinegar (not sure what it is for); have used either ground italian sausage or beef, and no meat before; and, have played with seasoning to my taste.... http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13978/lentil-soup/
  • GillianLF
    GillianLF Posts: 410 Member
    Oh wow, there are some really fab recipes here! Thanks guys! I'm hungry now :)
  • bigb198628
    bigb198628 Posts: 3 Member
    The way I cook them is just put them in a pot with pepper and cook for 1.5-2 hours and add a little corn starch to thickin it up its great add some all spice garlic and lemon juice perfect
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    If you find them gassy, add some cumin. ;)
    For new ideas, Google "lentil burgers" and "lentil sloppy joes."
    Enjoy.
  • schneizilla
    schneizilla Posts: 66 Member
    Doris, I just bought a slow cooker and I will try the lentil+kale and the maroccan lentil soup for sure! Thanks for sharing :smile:
  • questionfear
    questionfear Posts: 527 Member
    My wife made a kickass lentil and sweet potato chili the other night.

    Word of warning: when the recipe calls for "two cups steamed lentils" they don't mean start with two dry cups of lentils. That makes about 6 cups of lentils. We'll be eating lentils for days.

    On the upside, I've also discovered that tofu, pepper, salt, rice, and lentils is a surprisingly simple and tasty lunch.
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    I've only made them as a side and in a manner similar to pilaf. Very interesting to see some real recipes with them.
  • mamafazz
    mamafazz Posts: 92 Member
    burritos with lentils, a little shredded chicken, rice, and tomato...Yum
    Also, I do soak my lentils prior to cooking, it is supposed to make them easier to digest
  • GillianLF
    GillianLF Posts: 410 Member
    Brilliant! So glad I asked :)
    I do have a slow cooker and rarely use it so great to get some suggestions here too.
    Gosh so much you can do with them.
  • Okapi42
    Okapi42 Posts: 495 Member
    I usually throw a handful of the little red Indian lentils into whatever I'm making - they don't need soaking. Pasta sauce, ratatouille, soup... I also powder them in my food processor and use the lentil flour to up protein content in some recipes. If you want, I'll try to find measurements for my lentil and nut veggie "meatballs"...

    I also love lentil soup. If you don't eat meat - or even if you do! - it's amazing with smoked tofu. Put the liquid in with the stock, and fry little cubes of the tofu to sprinkle over the top at the end. Who needs bacon anyway?
  • The_Raspberry
    The_Raspberry Posts: 84 Member
    A great lentil side dish is to Cook either green or black lentils until done but still holds shape. Mix with a Little finely chopped red onion, lots of chopped fresh dill, salt, pepper and a tiny bit of olive oil and balsamic (or other) vinegar. A hit at potlucks!
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Soup: I just add a chopped onion, a couple of garlic cloves, and the lentils and boil them. Occasionally I might use vegetable broth instead of water or add a bit of tomato paste. When they are almost done, I add salt, pepper, vinegar and olive oil to taste. It is one of the easiest meals to make when I have no time for cooking. Preparation takes about 5 minutes and they are ready in an hour, without really any supervision.
    Also you can boil them with only salt, until they start to get tender, but not are still firm and add them to salads.
  • fidangul
    fidangul Posts: 673 Member
    Lentil kofte is devine wrapped in lettuce:

    •soak 1cup lentil and 1cup fine bulgur wheat(separately). Leave aside
    • sauté 1 large onion chopped finely and some crushed garlic, add tomato puree and herbs and spices that you would usually add to meatball mixture.
    •add everything into a large bowl and mix in chopped parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Make up small oval balls slightly bigger than walnuts.
    • serve with lettuce.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I haven't found a recipe I totally love yet. They don't need pre-soaking. Sometimes I add them to a soup near the end for extra texture.

    Here's a classic recipe, Lentils and Lamb. Which could easily be converted to lentils and ham, or lentils and chicken. You get the drift.

    If you just google " lentil recipes " as I have just done you will find 2 365 000 results and I am sure there will be a few really delicious recipes among them.
    I eat a lot of lentils and prepare them the Middle Eastern way, cook them according to Spanish recipes, make all kinds of European lentil soups & stews when it gets cooler and use them in salads or cold ( lentil bowl instead of rice bowl ) when the temps rise. I also often substitute beans or other legumes/pulses with lentils, because I don't have to pre-soak them. I also make a lot of Indian food with them.
    I love to just mix Mexican Pico de Gallo with lentils and add extra cilantro and lime juice...

  • Okapi42
    Okapi42 Posts: 495 Member
    fidangul wrote: »
    Lentil kofte is devine wrapped in lettuce:

    •soak 1cup lentil and 1cup fine bulgur wheat(separately). Leave aside
    • sauté 1 large onion chopped finely and some crushed garlic, add tomato puree and herbs and spices that you would usually add to meatball mixture.
    •add everything into a large bowl and mix in chopped parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Make up small oval balls slightly bigger than walnuts.
    • serve with lettuce.

    So the lentils and bulgur aren't cooked, or am I reading your recipe wrong?
  • zikarra
    zikarra Posts: 16 Member
    edited September 2015
    German lentil stew: (2 servings)
    2 Carrots,chopped into cubes or circles
    1 large onion
    50g red lentils
    50g brown lentils
    50g of chopped celery root (better with,but you can leave it out)
    200g of potatoes (the best for boiling kind)
    2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
    2 cubes of vegetable stock
    1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar (more to taste)
    gravy stock cube or powder (1 tablespoon)
    Pepper,Salt to taste

    Fry onion ,carrot and celerygently in a pan until softened and browning,add about 1.5l of water,add vegetable stock cube and all the spices+vinegar as well as the brown lentils (the ones that need no presoaking and cook within 40min),after 20 min add the potatoes and red lentils and then taste inbetween and adjust to taste with salt/stock cube/vinegar.

    One of my favorites :) Love it with egg based noodles for leftovers.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Okapi42 wrote: »
    fidangul wrote: »
    Lentil kofte is devine wrapped in lettuce:

    •soak 1cup lentil and 1cup fine bulgur wheat(separately). Leave aside
    • sauté 1 large onion chopped finely and some crushed garlic, add tomato puree and herbs and spices that you would usually add to meatball mixture.
    •add everything into a large bowl and mix in chopped parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Make up small oval balls slightly bigger than walnuts.
    • serve with lettuce.

    So the lentils and bulgur aren't cooked, or am I reading your recipe wrong?

    I have no idea about this recipe, but in general, bulgur is not cooked, just soaked. And if these are red lentils, again they can be jsut soaked in hot water.
  • healthydanni
    healthydanni Posts: 23 Member
    RodaRose wrote: »
    If you find them gassy, add some cumin. ;)
    For new ideas, Google "lentil burgers" and "lentil sloppy joes."
    Enjoy.

    Lentil shepherds pie is my favorite. The minimalist baker has a great recipe
  • StellaRose227
    StellaRose227 Posts: 43 Member
    edited September 2015
    Mujadara is a huge hit at my house. It's a Lebanese dish consisting or lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. Even my toddler loves it (okay, my toddler is weird and keeps requesting snails for dinner). I've made it with quinoa instead of rice before and it turned out pretty good.
  • GillianLF
    GillianLF Posts: 410 Member
    I'm so glad I asked! Some really awesome suggestions here. Plus a laugh! Snails for dinner? Brilliant.
  • fidangul
    fidangul Posts: 673 Member
    Okapi42 wrote: »
    fidangul wrote: »
    Lentil kofte is devine wrapped in lettuce:

    •soak 1cup lentil and 1cup fine bulgur wheat(separately). Leave aside
    • sauté 1 large onion chopped finely and some crushed garlic, add tomato puree and herbs and spices that you would usually add to meatball mixture.
    •add everything into a large bowl and mix in chopped parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Make up small oval balls slightly bigger than walnuts.
    • serve with lettuce.

    So the lentils and bulgur aren't cooked, or am I reading your recipe wrong?
    Ooops soory. The fine bulgur is just soaked through with boiling water. And yes lentils are boiled in separate pot.
  • ljmars92
    ljmars92 Posts: 4 Member
    Ina Garten's lentil sausage soup is fantastic! The recipe calls for homemade chicken stock, but unless I have it on hand I use store bought. I also use turkey kielbasa, omit the parm, and only use half the olive oil to make it lower cal.

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-sausage-soup-recipe.html
  • Alasha321
    Alasha321 Posts: 11 Member
    So whole lenails do not need to be presoaked. But they definitely benifit from it if they give you gas. Livestrong has a good guide on how to do it, boil 3 minutes, soak over night etc.

    I adore lentils, french lentils are my favorite. I like them in a soup of carrots, celery, onion, veg broth, season to taste, generally oregano and bay leaf. Then add a little red wine vinegar.

    Also red lentils cook up amazingly fast, very easy on stomach, and are awesome when added to a rice pilaf
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