Lentils in soup???

astep70uk

Ok - I'm just getting into soups now but need help on a couple of things:

When using dried red lentils, do I need to soak them overnight, and do I need to pre cook them , or do I just throw them into my soup??

Same question but for barley mix?

It's all very confusing . . .

sleepless_saver

Dried red lentils don't need to be soaked and cook to the mushy stage surprisingly fast (less than 30 mins). And they taste yummy .

Barley mix doesn't need to be soaked either as far as I remember, but takes a bit longer to cook.

comping_cat

Yes, barley needs longer, as do green lentils, if i am cooking these, i tend to do barley and green lentils, then after about 30 mins, add the red lentils for about 20 - 30 mins, that way everything is cooked together without going to mushy.
Catherine x

shammyjack

To cook in a pan .presoaking is best .in particular for the barley mix, at least allways prewash. For slow cooker just prewash and cook as normal,all will be fine !

shammy

nickinoo

No, you don't need to soak barley or lentils. If I remember correctly you are supposed to cook them separately but I never do & I have lived to tell the tale.

If you use broth mix that does need to be soaked overnight.

Mr_Proctalgia

I boil red lentils in slightly salted water for about 10 mins then chuck them into the soup, beware the water rises faster than boiling milk so keep the lid off the pan at first, all the rest go straight in except kidney beans which need a separate long boil (They are poisonous) However I only ever cook soup for "tomorrow" it tastes much better.

Ted_Hutchinson

Don't forget that a pressure cooker will deal with your beans and help you make soups in no time at all
see Miss vicky Soups & Stews

Swan_2

I was making soup in my SC the other day & I'd forgotten to soak the half packet of broth mix I wanted to use (read 'get rid of' I prefer to make my own mix from seperate packs) anyway, I thought 'what the hell' & chucked it in anyway & to my total surprise, it all cooked! even the marrowfat peas were lovely & soft. so I would say soaking the broth mix isn't strictly speaking necessary if you're using a slow cooker