Share your favorite lentils recipes

mustb60
mustb60 Posts: 1,090 Member
edited November 28 in Food and Nutrition
Recently I have decided to make lentils and vegetables as my main foods and cut back on other grains such as rice,wheat flour etc. How do you cook your lentils besides making the lentil soup? Please share.
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Replies

  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Budgetbytes has some great recipes for lentil based meals. The tacos and shepherd's pie are great!
  • truelight_photo_craig
    truelight_photo_craig Posts: 347 Member
    edited January 2016
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    I'm making lentil burgers tomorrow. My husband likes that since I crisp them up in the oven. No bread. Just broccoli on the side.
  • chocolateandpb
    chocolateandpb Posts: 438 Member
    I love using cooked green lentils and crumbled tempeh as a substitute for ground beef/turkey in sloppy Joe's or tacos. Just add the same flavoring/sauces you normally would.

    I've been on a huge lentil soup kick the past several months. Out of the half dozen or so recipes that I've tried, this one was probably the best and it is very simple. I use split red lentils and don't puree the soup at the end - the simmering of the soup breaks them down enough that pureeing seems like an unnecessary extra step.
    avocadopesto.com/2015/01/29/vegan-red-lentil-soup-gluten-free/
  • SconnieCat
    SconnieCat Posts: 770 Member
    This is my FAVORITE lentil recipe (besides throwing them in soups)...

    http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2014/03/black-bean-lentil-salad-with-cumin-lime.html

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    You could use cooked lentils instead of the canned chickpeas here: http://www.food.com/recipe/moroccan-spiced-chicken-and-apricot-stew-423440

    I get Berbere seasoning directly from Frontier so am not sure if it is available locally, but I use it and lentils to make http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-ethiopian-red-lentil-stew
    I add a pound of ground beef with the onions, but this could easily be a vegetarian or vegan recipe.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    When I make Chicken Cacciatore in the crockpot using 28 ounces of canned tomatoes I add lentils but unfortunately did not write down the amount. Probably 1/2 cup to 3/4 C uncooked.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    1) lentils with greens (usually spinach, kale, or escarole), with a little garlic and maybe a little sausage (something spicy like chorizo or just a smoked turkey sausage -- you don't need a lot, or you could omit entirely -- maybe add smoked paprika or hot sauce instead)

    2) lentil veggie chile - saute onions, garlic, peppers, mushrooms (or whatever veggies you like, really), add lentils and water, cook until lentils are tender, add canned tomatoes if you like, cook through. Serve with cheese (cheddar, jack, and/or mozzarella, because it melts so well), greek yogurt or sour cream, and/or chopped raw onions.

    3) salmon and lentils - cook lentils (about 1/4 cup per serving, or more if you like) according to package directions and drain. Meanwhile, rub salmon fillets (6 oz. fillet per serving) with oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake at 400 degrees F until opaque (15 to 20 minutes). Make dressing from lemon juice, olive oil (1:1 juice to oil), Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, tarragon. Saute shallots (about 1 per serving) in butter, add lentils, heat through if lentils have cooled, season with pepper, remove from heat, add fresh parsley (about 1 Tbsp per serving). Spread lentils on plates or single platter and arrange salmon on top.
  • stranger2310
    stranger2310 Posts: 28 Member
    ^ They sound delicious! Actually going to make the first or second next week for lunch. Would be so easy to take to uni with me. Thanks for the great ideas, Lynn!
  • stranger2310
    stranger2310 Posts: 28 Member
    This post was just made on a food blog I follow, with some lentil/bean recipes. :)
    http://cookieandkate.com/2016/16-bean-lentil-recipes/
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,351 Member
    edited January 2016
    I'm eating this for lunches this week, with a few tweaks (ommitted the oil, used no-fat yoghurt and I didn't have any pine nuts - oh, and I also didn't have enough eggplant so I used some zucchini)

    http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/37702/spiced+eggplant+and+lentil+bake
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
  • jb754
    jb754 Posts: 3 Member
    I love the lentil enchiladas in the Peas and Thank You cookbook. The recipe is on another blog, here: http://smithbakeaholic.blogspot.ca/2011/08/lentil-enchiladas.html
    (But the author of this blog added nutritional yeast, I think)
  • mustb60
    mustb60 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Wow! So many lip-smacking recipes!! Thank you everyone. I will try these ones. :)
  • 88meli88
    88meli88 Posts: 238 Member
    It is great for salads combined w grains and greens e.g.

    Ruccola, lentil, quinoa (or buckwheat), apple w goat cheese
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,267 Member
    search in allrecipes.com there are hundreds of recipes for all varieties. lentils and kale as a side is pretty good
  • PiSquared
    PiSquared Posts: 148 Member
    I love this eggplant and lentil casserole. I think it tastes similar to a lasagna. I don't have individual gratin dishes, so I just put the whole thing in a casserole dish.
    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/barbecued-eggplant-lentils

    I don't know why it's called 'Barbecued Eggplant'. The eggplant is spiced and roasted in the oven. I've had good luck making this a day ahead, just leave off the topping. Pull the casserole out of the 'fridge and stick it in the oven until it's heated through. At that point, you can put the topping on and let it brown.
  • mustb60
    mustb60 Posts: 1,090 Member
    88meli88 wrote: »
    It is great for salads combined w grains and greens e.g.

    Ruccola, lentil, quinoa (or buckwheat), apple w goat cheese
    Sounds easy and delicious. Can make it regularly. Thanks! :)

  • mustb60
    mustb60 Posts: 1,090 Member
    edited January 2016
    PiSquared wrote: »
    I love this eggplant and lentil casserole. I think it tastes similar to a lasagna. I don't have individual gratin dishes, so I just put the whole thing in a casserole dish.
    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/barbecued-eggplant-lentils

    I don't know why it's called 'Barbecued Eggplant'. The eggplant is spiced and roasted in the oven. I've had good luck making this a day ahead, just leave off the topping. Pull the casserole out of the 'fridge and stick it in the oven until it's heated through. At that point, you can put the topping on and let it brown.

    Going to cook it tomorrow. Hope it tastes good!
  • WYMANT0004
    WYMANT0004 Posts: 81 Member
    Not a recipe per say but I take one package each of dried lentils, mung beans and bulgur, mix them in a large bowl and soak them over night. The next day I drain them and bag 1.5 or 2 cup portions and throw those in the freezer. Whenever I want a quick meal I empty the bag into a bowl and microwave it for a few minutes and then mix in 0.5 cups of plain Greek yoghurt and 2-3 Tbsp of hummus (and whatever spices from the cabinet catch my fancy.)
  • mustb60
    mustb60 Posts: 1,090 Member
    WYMANT0004 wrote: »
    Not a recipe per say but I take one package each of dried lentils, mung beans and bulgur, mix them in a large bowl and soak them over night. The next day I drain them and bag 1.5 or 2 cup portions and throw those in the freezer. Whenever I want a quick meal I empty the bag into a bowl and microwave it for a few minutes and then mix in 0.5 cups of plain Greek yoghurt and 2-3 Tbsp of hummus (and whatever spices from the cabinet catch my fancy.)
    Except for the freezer part that's what I do mostly with my green beans! Am a lazy cook! :D

  • SLE0803
    SLE0803 Posts: 145 Member
    I love lentils and I love this post. Thank you all for your yummy recipes even though I am not the OP. :smile: I usually just eat lentil soup from can/box...yum yum. I'm not much of a cook. Lentil soup is a staple food in my diet. I eat it about 2-3x times a week.
  • mustb60
    mustb60 Posts: 1,090 Member
    slm0414 wrote: »
    I love lentils and I love this post. Thank you all for your yummy recipes even though I am not the OP. :smile: I usually just eat lentil soup from can/box...yum yum. I'm not much of a cook. Lentil soup is a staple food in my diet. I eat it about 2-3x times a week.

    Yay for lentils' lovers!! :) I find lentils second best option after chicken to hit my protein goals, especially when I have decided to cut back meat in my diet.
  • verdebug
    verdebug Posts: 20 Member
    mustb60 wrote: »
    slm0414 wrote: »
    I love lentils and I love this post. Thank you all for your yummy recipes even though I am not the OP. :smile: I usually just eat lentil soup from can/box...yum yum. I'm not much of a cook. Lentil soup is a staple food in my diet. I eat it about 2-3x times a week.

    Yay for lentils' lovers!! :) I find lentils second best option after chicken to hit my protein goals, especially when I have decided to cut back meat in my diet.

    As a fellow lentil lover, I agree that this is a great thread. Did you know that 2016 is the International Year of Pulses? http://www.pulses.org/ Who knew this was a thing - but it's a thing! Interesting ideas for lentils, beans, peas, etc (they are collectively called pulses, which I did not know until I stumbled across this site!).....
  • SweetestLibby
    SweetestLibby Posts: 607 Member
    I hated lentils...until I met my boyfriend. His from Sri Lanka so he cooks it in coconut milk with cardamom, cloves, ginger, garlic, onions, curry powder, and turmeric.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    verdebug wrote: »
    mustb60 wrote: »
    slm0414 wrote: »
    I love lentils and I love this post. Thank you all for your yummy recipes even though I am not the OP. :smile: I usually just eat lentil soup from can/box...yum yum. I'm not much of a cook. Lentil soup is a staple food in my diet. I eat it about 2-3x times a week.

    Yay for lentils' lovers!! :) I find lentils second best option after chicken to hit my protein goals, especially when I have decided to cut back meat in my diet.

    As a fellow lentil lover, I agree that this is a great thread. Did you know that 2016 is the International Year of Pulses? http://www.pulses.org/ Who knew this was a thing - but it's a thing! Interesting ideas for lentils, beans, peas, etc (they are collectively called pulses, which I did not know until I stumbled across this site!).....

    I had never heard the term before! Thanks for that link, I'm totally going to check out more pulse recipes.

    I've been making this lentil and rice recipe nearly every week. I'll use stock instead of water and add a more varied mix a spices:
    http://allrecipes.com/recipe/49353/lentils-and-rice-with-fried-onions-mujadarrah/

    Does anyone sprout them before cooking? I've been doing this to help with digestion.
  • Hell_Flower
    Hell_Flower Posts: 348 Member
    My favourites!

    http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/lentil-sweet-potato-curry

    http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1260646/chickpea-tomato-and-spinach-curry

    I usually double the amounts so I can freeze them. Or they keep in the fridge for about a week, to be honest. If I'm having a busy week so I dont have to cook every night.

    I like getting Romaine lettuce and having that with them, instead of naan bread.
    Yum yum yum.

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