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Lentils? Help!

(64 Posts)
ecci53 Fri 30-Mar-18 20:03:05

I had to go to a traing day recently and had lentil and sweet potato bake for lunch. Very nice, so I thought I'd try to make it at home. Had never eaten lentils before, they were small, brown roundish things like tiny brown peas. I asked DH, who does the grocery shopping online, to get some lentils. When the shopping came, we found we had a packet labelled 'red lentils' containing what looks like orange coloured flakes. Nothing like the lentils I had on my training day. I guess there must be different types, but I didn't realise. I've tried cooking some, following the directions on the packet, but it turned into a slurry! Anyone know how to use red lentils? Any recipes gratefully received, thanks.

mrsmopp Tue 30-Apr-19 23:23:29

We like this lentil loaf.
Cook 200grams of red lentils in 450ml of veg stock. While its cooking, fry a chopped onion, chopped red pepper, diced leek, 100g mushrooms, and mix well. Add garlic, parsley and add to the lentils. Mix well, add a beaten egg and 75g grated cheddar cheese and 100g whole meal breadcrumbs.
Add seasoning. Line a loaf tin with grease proof paper and press the mixture into the tin. Bake in oven for an hour gas 5.
Leave to cool and set then turn out and slice it in thick sliced.
It's easy, healthy, cheap and delicious. Make a sauce with tin tomatoes It's versatile - you can use different veg or add nuts etc.

M0nica Sat 27-Apr-19 09:02:45

I buy lentils and all dried beans and peas in tins. They are an excellent meat 'extender' with mince.

For ecological and other reasons I am reducing the amount of meat we eat and adding a tin of lentils to spag bol, moussaka or a meat loaf isa very easy way to do it.

Anja Sat 27-Apr-19 06:30:21

Yes, a good source of protein st about 18% per 100g, dietary fibre and iron and other minerals.

NUTRITION FACTS
Lentils, boiled
Amount Per 100 grams
Calories 116
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.4 g0%
Saturated fat 0.1 g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg0%
Sodium 2 mg0%
Potassium 369 mg10%
Total Carbohydrate 20 g6%
Dietary fiber 8 g32%
Sugar 1.8 g
Protein 9 g18%
Vitamin A0%Vitamin C2%
Calcium1%Iron18%
Vitamin D0%Vitamin B-610%
Cobalamin0%Magnesium 9%

Anja Sat 27-Apr-19 06:25:11

Those were probably puy lentils as mentioned by some already. Theses ready cooked ones by Jamie Oliver are handy to have in.

metro99 Sat 27-Apr-19 06:09:04

fdsdsfsd

Feelingmyage55 Tue 17-Apr-18 17:08:44

Spicy (to taste) lentils and potatoes with side helping of fresh peas. Yummy, quick and cheap.

MillieBear Tue 17-Apr-18 15:07:05

Puy lentils, onions and mushrooms with a beaten egg and some herbs make an excellent 'sausage' meat. To my mind far tastier 'sausage' rolls are produced.

M0nica Tue 17-Apr-18 13:44:06

franbern I do that as well, I use it as a meat 'extender' to reduce our meat consumption without out loosing the flavour. I use it in any dish using mince including spaghetti Bolognaise, moussaka and several others.

Franbern Mon 16-Apr-18 13:43:22

I always add red lentils (and grated carrot), to the mince meat when I cook it ready for Shepherds Pie. Not only does this very much bulk out the meat, but helps to make this a much healthier meal. Just a add handful or so, (I rarely do measuring). Once finished dish is prepared no-one (including g.children) know that it contains those two items!!!

ecci53 Sun 01-Apr-18 17:52:23

Thank you for these links. Really interesting and some great looking recipes.

Catterygirl Sun 01-Apr-18 11:40:29

I make red lentils in a big pan of water and when they are soft I blitz it and add salt, lemon and frankfurters chopped into one inch pieces.

JackyB Sun 01-Apr-18 08:43:39

I like lentil soup made with brown lentils which is a standard weekday meal here in Southern Germany, but I do draw the line at the Swabian dish which includes lentils AND potatoes.

Like the OP I once bought some red lentils by mistake and used them anyway. And like SheilaSue I spent the rest of the day on the loo!
Any takers for half a packet of red lentils?

DeeWBW Sun 01-Apr-18 00:04:30

My goodness - how strange! I've just finished preparing an article on lentils for a magazine and will soon (in the next week) be putting a booklet up on the same on Amazon Kindle! While I can't give you a copy of the article, I'll put here the links where I got my information from. Enjoy the read.

www.drgourmet.com/ingredients/lentils.shtml
happyherbivore.com/2012/06/what-are-lentils/
www.jessicagavin.com/what-are-lentils/
www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/lentils/faq-20058072
www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/lentils
www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/types-lentils
www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=52

Gerispringer Sat 31-Mar-18 19:50:02

greyduster I use one of those merchant gourmet packets of cooked puy lentils, makes a good pie serves 4-6 I don’t use a recipe as it’s really easy , but there are some online for vegan shepherds pie.

MissAdventure Sat 31-Mar-18 18:32:29

Ah thank you grandMattie
I've never heard of a deci-litre blush I can manage 100 ml though.

Greyduster Sat 31-Mar-18 18:30:13

Gerispringer i like the sound of that. What proportion of lentils do you use?

Greyduster Sat 31-Mar-18 18:27:39

Merchant Gourmet do a range of ready to eat puy lentils which are very nice, and versatile. Like NannyC2 - and my mother - I use red lentils in ham hock and vegetable soup, and sometimes also yellow split peas.

grandMattie Sat 31-Mar-18 17:42:54

dl = deci-litre or 100 ml?

Auntieflo Sat 31-Mar-18 17:42:07

All this talk of tasty lentil dishes has made me go and make my lentil dahl/ curry. It is just barely simmering as I write.

GrandmaMoira Sat 31-Mar-18 17:08:09

I like puy/green lentils as a side as a change from rice.pasta or couscous. I sometimes add red lentils to stews or make a dahl with curry. Yellow lentils/yellow split peas are good with cooked ham or with curry but need to be soaked overnight so I don't usually bother with them

MissAdventure Sat 31-Mar-18 16:43:46

That sounds delicious!

Gerispringer Sat 31-Mar-18 16:32:56

I make a shepherds pie with puy lentils ( you can get them cooked in a packet), fry onion and garlic, then carrots, celery, whatever veg you like, add tin chopped tomatoes, herbs, 1tsp marmite or veg stock, season, mix in the lentils, put in dish and top with sweet potato and potato mash, brush non dairy marg on top bake in oven till top goes brown and crispy, and you have a vegan dish that even meat eaters in the family enjoy, much lower in fat than the meat version too. Serve with green veg of choice.

NannyC2 Sat 31-Mar-18 16:25:47

Lentils are really good for you and should be eaten quite often! I soak mine til they swell. Lentil and bacon soup is great. Buy a ham hock so you get all the goodness from the bone marrow. Not forgetting the onions, of course.

MissAdventure Sat 31-Mar-18 13:35:29

Oh yes, dl?

MissAdventure Sat 31-Mar-18 13:33:16

Oh, I might have a go at the lentil patties. (even though I'm no lover of cooking) smile
Thank you!