Lentils are the first food you should consider if you want to add more herbal foods to your diet. These small grains are rich in protein and fiber, easy to ripen and have a delicious earthy flavor that complements all foods.
Read on to learn how to cook lentils. We also collected information about different types of lentils and how to prepare them. It will be delicious!
How to cook lentils?
The method of preparation of lentils falls into 2 main stages.
- Washing. Sometimes small stones or debris are found in lentils. To avoid eating them, wash the lentils in a fine sieve. In addition to dirt, any crushed lentils should be removed.
- Cooking. It is not necessary to use a different combination of lentils and water like couscous or quinoa. Simply fill a large pot with half the water, bring it to a boil and add the lentils. Lightly fry until smooth. The specific cooking time depends on the type of lentils you are cooking.
Types of lentils
Not all lentils are the same – different varieties are suitable for different recipes. Here are some of the ones you find most common in stores:
Le Puy or French green lentils
It retains its shape well when cooked and has a high tensile strength. It is best used in salads and pasta soups, and can be added to curry soups.
Beluga lentils
These black lentils are very similar to the French green lentils. In fact, they can be used interchangeably in most recipes! Cooked for about 20 minutes, added to salad, and served as a good side dish.
Ordinary green or brown lentils
If you are making homemade soup or stew, regular green or brown lentils are the best choice. This species softens quickly during cooking. First add the dried lentils to the soup and cook for 30 minutes.
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Red lentils
Red (or yellow) lentils ripen faster than other varieties. It will be soft and fluffy in 15 minutes of cooking! The grains literally melt in your mouth, creating a sweet cream. Therefore, this variety is a great choice to add to thick curries, pots or Indian daffodils. You can make humus out of it.
What to eat and how to cook lentils?
Below you will find methods to prepare lentils.
- Combine lentils with lemon juice, dill mustard, fresh herbs and red pepper flakes for a side dish or vegetable base. Ripe lentils can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Roasted French green lentils with garlic, cumin, coriander, onion, salt and black pepper. You can also add a few chopped walnuts for breakfast.
- Add the lentils to the pot at the same time as the soup and use the onion instead in the soup.
- Add lentils to vegetable pasta for more protein-rich foods.
- Use it in salads with Moroccan origin, such as fried and raw carrot salad.
- Vegetables such as eggplant or baked sweet potatoes.
- Use it to make homemade falafel.
enjoy your meal!
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