PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

red lentils

Ive decided to try and get my family to eat better and the last time I went shopping bought red lentils, only I have no idea what to do with them, Ive thought about doing a simple soup anyone got any recipes for that. When do u use lentils. Hope you can help especially if you have any war time recipes. Im trying to spend much less on food because we waste so much and have found some of the wartime recipes are a great wasy of making something out of nothing when your due to go shopping and your cupboards are empty.
Thank you :beer:
Never look back if you want to move forwards

Piggyback rewards - £10 costa coffee voucher, one £10 arcadia voucher, £20 boots vouchers,
«13456721

Comments

  • squeaky
    squeaky Posts: 14,129 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    One of the best sites I've found for soups is:-

    https://www.soupsong.com

    Your red lentils will work well in a fair number of soups and will often break down and act as a thickener.

    There's a carrot and lentil soup, and also a lentil soup listed in the Starters and Soups section of our main recipe collection:-

    Old Style Recipe Collection - Soups
    Hi, I'm a Board Guide on the Old Style and the Consumer Rights boards which means I'm a volunteer to help the boards run smoothly and can move and merge posts there. Board guides are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an inappropriate or illegal post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. It is not part of my role to deal with reportable posts. Any views are mine and are not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
    Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
    DTFAC: Y.T.D = £5.20 Apr £0.50
  • frak
    frak Posts: 112 Forumite
    red lentils are great for a quck dhal if you like curry.
    I like to make sweet potato and red lentil curry. but you can add any veg in you like really or just make it with the lentils, really quick and easy and very cheap and healty. freezes well too

    1 medium onion sliced
    2 cloves of garlic
    1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
    2 teaspoons of turmeric
    1 teaspoon of gram massala
    1 teaspoon of chilli powder (optional)
    250g red lentils
    2 or 3 sweet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks about 1 1/2" square
    kettle of boiling water

    1. heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan to a medium heat
    2. Add sliced onions cumin seeds and garlic and allow to brown a little, this gives a more authentic taste.
    3. add turmeric and chilli powder and stir round for a few seconds
    4. Add washed red lentils and stir throughly
    5. Transfer to a big pan and add sweet potatoes.
    6. top the pan up with boiling water so everything is just covered.
    7. cover and simmer for about 30 -40 minutes topping water up when it gets to dry, you want a consistency that is like porrdige when it is done.
    8. add garam massala after 15 minutes of cooking.

    serve with nan, sliced onions and natural yoghurt
    Dig inside; inside is the fountain of good, and it will forever flow, if you will forever dig.
  • Ajax18
    Ajax18 Posts: 265 Forumite
    You can also do a nice vegetarian sheperds pie

    http://www.fatfreevegan.com/beans/shepherds.shtml


    It really tastes great! It's one of our favourites...
  • kacy75
    kacy75 Posts: 175 Forumite
    Think I might make the curry tonight it sounds lovely! Also thanks to the other 2 suggestions will check out the soup site now. Thanks
    Never look back if you want to move forwards

    Piggyback rewards - £10 costa coffee voucher, one £10 arcadia voucher, £20 boots vouchers,
  • frak
    frak Posts: 112 Forumite
    forgot to add if it gets a bit sticky in the frying pan just add a little water from the kettle, you don't want to burn the spices. Water is healthier than oil ;)
    Also when you transfer the lentils etc to the big pan pour some water in the frying pan to get any of the residue off and then pour that in to the big pan, dont want to waste any of the flavour
    Dig inside; inside is the fountain of good, and it will forever flow, if you will forever dig.
  • Prudent
    Prudent Posts: 11,566 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Ajax18 wrote:
    You can also do a nice vegetarian sheperds pie

    http://www.fatfreevegan.com/beans/shepherds.shtml


    It really tastes great! It's one of our favourites...

    This looks nice. I am going to make it for my daughter who has just stopped eating meat. please can you tell me what you use for the vegetable broth in the topping?
  • bulchy
    bulchy Posts: 955 Forumite
    500 Posts
    I usually put lentils in carrot and coriander soup, to thicken and make it a bit healthier.
    I dont measure any ingredients, but its usually a cup of lentils, once cooked add a red onion chopped and some roughly chopped carrots, simmer gently for about three quaters of an hour, then add chopped coriander and pepper to taste, simmer for a futher 15 minutes. Then allow to cool for a bit and blend either with a stick blender or in a smoothie maker. Delicious, my kids love this.
    Sue
  • bulchy
    bulchy Posts: 955 Forumite
    500 Posts
    I'm going to try the shepherds pie next week, it sounds lovely.
    Sue
  • SusanCarter
    SusanCarter Posts: 781 Forumite
    500 Posts
    When you make a curry or spag bol or similar, put in less mince and throw in a load of lentils instead.
  • Ajax18
    Ajax18 Posts: 265 Forumite
    Prudent wrote:
    This looks nice. I am going to make it for my daughter who has just stopped eating meat. please can you tell me what you use for the vegetable broth in the topping?

    I usually use 1 1/2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon with hot water from the kettle. But one vegetable stock cube will do as well.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.