Great Lentil Recipes And Everything You Need To Know For Cooking Lentils
The variety of lentil recipes to try is
testament to the
versatility of this wonderful food.
Personally,
I think it’s impossible to not like lentils.
They seem to reinvent themselves for every dish and lend
themselves to
all kinds of cooking styles. If that's not reason enough to
start cooking lentils, their nutritional
benefits will certainly persuade you.
Green Lentils
Lentils are basically a small pulse or legume. There is a huge variety available, varying in colour from the more common greenish brown and red to yellow, white and black. The most common are green lentils and split red lentils. In the Indian sub-continent, where lentils form a central part of the diet, lentils are known as dal (or dahl) although the term dal specifically refers to any split bean, pea or lentil with the husk removed.
How To Cook Lentils
Cooking lentils is easy. Unlike beans, they do not need to be soaked. To cook, simply place in a large pot, cover with twice their volume of water, bring to the boil and simmer till tender. How long that takes really depends on the variety and age of the lentils you are cooking. For more informatin on cooking lentils, take a look at the lentil recipes below.
Split Red Lentils
Whole lentils will usually take 30 to 40 minutes to cook while split lentils cook much faster. These may only take 10-20 minutes.
Whole lentils tend to hold their shape (more or less) when cooked and will need to be drained after cooking. Split red lentils will dissolve completely into a puree which is why they are so popular in soups. Add a tablespoon or two to any soup near the start of cooking to make it thicker and more substantial.
Lentil Nutrition
Their incredible nutritional value should be enough to get you cooking lentils. They are rich in protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates. They are a good source of calcium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins and folic acid. They are also low calorie, low fat and cholesterol free.
On average 100g or ½ Cup of cooked lentils provides:
| Calories | 115kcal |
| Protein | 9g |
| Fibre | 8g |
| Fat | 0.4g |
| Calcium | 19mg |
| Iron | 3.3mg |
| Folic Acid | 180mcg |
| Phosphorus | 180mg |
Lentil Recipes
Vegan recipes are marked with a V.
V A Dal Recipe Full Of Warm Spices And Mouth-Watering Flavours
This red lentil dal is really one of the best vegetarian dishes there is. Delicious and satisfying, it’s also extremely nutritious and cheap to make.
A Red Lentil Loaf For A Tasty and Easy Family Meal
This is especially nice to serve if you feel like a roast dinner with all the trimmings. It’s a simple, nutritious and very satisfying vegetarian main course.
The Best Vegetarian Moussaka
Aubergines, lentils and aromatic middle eastern spices are combined to create a deliciously hearty and healthy family meal.
Leek, Lentil and Parmesan Bake
A simple but delicious lentil pie. This lentil recipe makes an excellent family meal and it freezes well too.
V A Quick And Yummy Lentil Pasta Recipe
Tasty, nutritious, cheap and a really simple lentil recipe to make. There’s always a batch of this sauce in my freezer.
Vegetarian Shepherds Pie
This shepherds pie is made with green lentils. It's a hearty and satisfying vegetarian main course dish which both children and adults seem to love.
V Spiced Lentil Burgers
These delicious lentil burgers are moist and gently spiced. They also freeze perfectly.
A Lentil Salad Recipe That’s Simple, Delicious And
Packed With Flavour
The sunny flavours of feta, lemon and basil make this lentil salad recipe perfect for a summer lunch in the garden. Though it makes a tasty side dish at any time of the year.
V A Wonderfully Hearty And Satisfying Lentil Soup Recipe
For me, this is one of the best lentil soup recipes ever. Chunky vegetables and green lentils are cooked together with herbs and garlic to create a vegan lentil soup that’s so tasty and packed with nutrients.
V A Tasty Indian-Spiced Vegetarian Lentil Soup
Vegetables, red lentils and spices combine to make a smooth, delectable Indian inspired soup.
Mung (or Moong) Dal, Split yellow lentils
