Lentils??? What to Make and How to Make Them...

OOHH!!! I came across an awesome recipe on www.allrecipes.com for "Tasty lentil tacos". This recipe has been getting 4 to 5 stars for a long time. I made it for my whole family on a vacation and now all of them have made it a staple in their homes. I like my lentils a little less mashed, so I don't cook them quite as long as the recipe suggests. I also have used a lentil soup mix of lentils and other beans, etc. along with the small pasta/barley that comes in the package.....it works well, too. Good luck!!

Lentils are extremely good for you are very high in protein. I make a wonderful crockpot chicken dish with lentils and potatoes. Simply place a cup or more of lentils in the crockpot and add 2-3 cups of chicken broth. Coat your chicken (I use about 3lbs. of breasts) with the following mixture:
1.5 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground tumeric and black pepper
Then add the chicken to the crockpot. Finally, cut up your potatoes and place them on top of everything with a touch of salt and pepper. Cook on low 6-7 hrs. or on high for 3.5-4 hours. Enjoy!

They are high in protein and very good for you per the people at the fitness center I go to. I have not made them yet, but I was told I could make them in my rice cooker. So add water and turn it on. the rice cooker does it all and keeps it warm. Rice cookers are very cheap and great to have.

My favorite Lentil Recipe (from foodnetwork.com). Sometimes I leave out the beef and sub veggie stock for the beef stock for a yummy vegitarian soup. It makes a huge pot! I usually make it and freeze half for another meal.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large celery stalks, chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
6 (14-ounce) cans beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
2 cups (about 11 ounces) lentils, rinsed
1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Directions
Heat the oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper. Add half of the beef and cook until brown, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining beef. Add the celery, carrots, onion, garlic, rosemary, and oregano to the pot. Saute until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes. Return the beef and any accumulated juices from the bowl to the pot. Add the broth and tomatoes with their juice. Bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the meat is just tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Add the lentils. Cover and continue simmering until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes. Stir in the parsley. Season the soup, to taste, with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

They also go great when you add them to rice. I have a great recipe, but I'm in the middle of packing to move. But I think it was rice, lentils, diced roasted red peppers, diced onions, chicken broth, and garlic.

Also, I love to add it to soups.

Mmmmmmmm! Lentil Soup!
here's a link to a great recipe from Alton Brown:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/lentil-sou...

And here's a link to a wonderful lentil salad recipe:

http://www.theveggietable.com/recipes/lentilsalad.html

Pampered Chef has a Lentil Soup recipe that was pretty good. I believe it was in their 30 Minutes or Less Recipe book. I don't have it with me right now, sorry.

I love lentils. They cook more quickly than other legumes. You can use any ingredients normally used in a soup. Many recipes for lentil soup include a smoked sausage, tomato product and at the end a few tablespoons of red wine vinegar. You can also cook them and use them cold in a salad. There should be recipes on line. As all beans they are good for you. Try them!

Hi T.,

The Tightwad Gazette books (I forget which volume, there are 3) has a good recipe for Lentil Brown Rice Casserole. Also includes carrots, celery and onions, and optional cheese. The author is Amy Dacyczyn (hope I spelled that right!)

You might be able to google the recipe, I have sometimes found her stuff online. Or go to the library and borrow the books.

I can't put my hands on my copy of the recipe right now--I am the only one in my house who likes lentils so I don't make it often :-(

Or you can just throw lentils into any soup you are making for an extra boost of protein and fiber. They take maybe 15-20 min to soften up in the broth. Just check to make sure they are soft before serving.

Have fun!

K. Z.

I cook them with carrots, celery, little onion, and Cut up Polish Sausage great with a good bread
enjoy

Lentils make a wonderful soup.I put pork chunks with mine as well as tomatoes, onion, a bit of garlic, all kinds of mixed vegtables ,plenty of water and cook "Simmer "for several hours .It is very healthy and good for you.

Hi T.,
I love lentils and have been cooking them for years. I'm a vegetarian and cook all the beans and grains.
Here's one recipe:
bag of lentils, onion, celery, salt, pepper, cumin
Wash lentils (place in pot and cover in water at sink, swish, pour off excess, use a strainer).
Add water:abour 2 inches above the lentils. and cook (low simmer with lid for 30 min), add chopped onion and celery. cook another 30 min. or so until lentils are soft. Add water as you go -- not too much , however you like your soup. add salt,pepper, cumin.

let me know how you like it,
variation: cooking lentils with less water, add carrots, bay leaves & thyme instead of cumin, it's more of side dish. serve with brown rice., D.

There's an Indian dish called "Dhal" that is wonderful. VERY easy. Sometimes calls for cayenne and such, but you can lessen or eliminate to make so its not spicy.
I'm glad you asked this question, as I'm always wanting to make more lentil dishes, and there are some great ideas!

I am Indian and make lentils ( called Dahl in hindi) pretty much every day.

Here is an easy recipe:

Boil about 2 cups of lentils. Add some tumeric and salt while you boil. It is okay if you do not have tumeric.

In another small container add 1 tbls of oil and let it heat on medium heat. Add cumin or mustard seeds, some chopped onion (optional), chopped tomatoes or tomato puree and chilli powder ( depending on how spicy you want to make it). saute for about couple of minutes.

Once the lentils are boiled ( lentils should have the consistency of soup so add lots of water while boiling) add the oil mixture. Add some chopped cilantro for garnish.

Hi T.,
I boil mine, then mix them with brown rice, cumin and olive oil. Sometimes I add a little green onion, tomato, and parsley. They are great. I eat them with a cucumber tomato salad on the side.
Good luck :-)