What to do with lentils?

lillydrip

I need help, my mums cupboards are chocca block with things she just does not use. For example ages ago she got carried away and brought loads of lentils after watching You Are What You Eat, the thing is she has never even opened the packets.

So... can anyone think of tasty meals we can make to help use up:
Red split lentils
Aduki Beans
Pearl Barley

rjh090384

red lentil sooup might be nice.

with the barley and lentils u could do a thick veg soup?

fabwitch_2

Home made lasagne is fantastic with pearl barley, beans and lentils. I add tomartoes, mushrooms, onions, leeks and soya mince and slices of cheese with seasoning but you could add other ingredients too. As a Vegatarian we often use lentils and barley a lot, they are so good for you. Serve with jacket pototoes its a great meal.

fabwitch_2

Also old fashioned stew, delicious with lentils, barley beens, pototoes and whatever else you want to throw in the pot.

seb1

I have a fantastic recipe of roast garlic and lentil soup if you want

**purpleprincess**

seb1 wrote:

I have a fantastic recipe of roast garlic and lentil soup if you want

:drool: yummy yummy, yes please!!!

divorcingjack

Lentils .... mmmmmm

My mum's lentil and tomato soup is perhaps the best thing in the world! Chopped onion, carrots, cheap bacon bits - fry together until onions and carrots are softened.

Add a whole tin of tomatoes, a couple of bay leaves and a load of red lentils. Top up with water, leave to simmer until lentils are soft (probably about an hour), then liquidise. Really good, and so easy. You can leave it unliquidised as well, but my OH still doesn't know there are lentils in it - he wouldn't eat it if he found out!

I don't bother to soak the lentils, just chuck everything in together.

Good luck!

dj

Penny-Wise_4

Lentil curry?

A few people on here use lentils to ‘cut’ mince to make the mince go further (such as in shepherds pie) it’s better for you and cheaper too.

divorcingjack

Forgot to mention,

vegetable soup (any veg you have lying around) is fabulous with pearl barley. Would be good for thickening irish stew or similar as well. This is making me hungry now!

dj

seb1

Lentil and roast garlic soup

4 fat garlic cloves, unpeeled
25 g/1 oz butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
3 sticks celery, chopped
350 g/12 oz red lentils, rinsed
1 bay leaf
1.5 litres/2 ¾ pints hot chicken stock
salt and freshly ground black pepper
(Serves 4-6)

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas 4.
Place the garlic cloves in a small oven dish and roast them in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until soft. Remove then when cool enough to handle, snip open the end and squeeze out the contents into a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat the butter and oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and celery for 10 minutes or so, then stir in the roasted garlic and lentils. Stir well to coat in the fat, then add the bay leaf and hot stock. Bring to the boil, season well with salt and pepper, then cover and simmer for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are cooked. Remove the bay leaf.

Liquidise the soup in batches, returning it to a clean pan, check the seasoning and serve piping hot.

lillydrip

Thanks everyone, some brilliant ideas here, :T I'm off to get cooking now. Keep the ideas coming though, I will still have loads left!