What do lentils taste like?

inspiremetosave

Can anyone give me an idea as to what lentils taste like? Trying to decide whether to give then a go?

Norbert_Colon

Green lentils taste sort of like peas but with a spicy overtone. Incidentally the liquid lentils have been boiled in makes very flavoursome stock (hopefully no-one will come on here and tell me it's poisonous).

Biddyrolo

Ooh that's tricky, to me the green ones are very slightly peppery but they're more a texture than a taste imo.

snaffler

Well not sure where to start to help you, I have been vegan for most of my life so I have eaten a fair few, but it is not so much the lentil taste as to what you do with it.

To start with Red Lentils which is a fave with many are quick and easy to do and the juice left from the boiling of them make a fantastic bolognaise stock (Meat free of course).

Many other lentils require lots of prep but all have different textures and tastes. Treat them as you would any other base bulk ingredient e.g. mince, tvp and so on. They are only as good as the seasoning and flavours you use along side them. Many Indian dishes use lentils and taste amazing.

Also remember Lentils, like all pulses, are high in fibre which makes them a good protector against bowel cancer. They are an excellent source of protein when combined with rice or whole grains. Lentils are an important source of B vitamins, especially B3, which is essential for both a healthy nervous system and digestive system. They are high in iron, zinc and calcium and are a good replacement for red meat. Like meat, the iron in lentils is better absorbed when they are eaten with a good source of vitamin C like leafy green vegetables.

So the humble lentil is very under rated by many giving it the title of staple hippy diet of Neil from the young ones LOL ;-)

Here are some great Lentil recipes
http://www.vrg.org/recipes/lentils.htm
http://www.earth.li/~kake/cookery/recipes/veg-moussaka.html
http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/lentil.html

You will see by those few links that many things can be done with the humble lentil.

hazzie123

I find lentils taste like baked beans? maybe it`s down to my years of smoking damaging my tastebuds?

They are lovely in stews/casseroles with some pearl barley.

natlie

Hi I don't find a taste to lentils at all really? Its more a texture thing! I think of them more like rice - use them to bulk things out rather than to flavour things
Nat
xxx

Plum_Pie

I find they absorb flaovour really and IMO need seasoning about three times as much as meat. They taste nice, but only with plenty of other flavours.

I enjoy basmati rice mixed with orange lentils as a side dish to veg stew. I also enjoy any stew of lentils and pork (chorizo, bacon, pancetta, sausages.)

I have just made myself hungry.

mcbiddy

I agree with snaffler it what you do with them. I (being a meat eater) find that smokey bacon is a must with lentils, that and plenty of seasonning

Plum_Pie

They're also dirt cheap...atleast they are where I live. Not a disaster if you experiment with a few small bags and have to give away (or even chuck out!!!!!!!!) a variety if you don't like it. Then start bulk buying the ones you do.

fabwitch_2

Lentils are great and pearl barley too. I always add them to stews and make lasagne with them to add bulk. They are so easy to use and you can add seasoning to change the flavour.

savememoney!

Red lentis are lovely and quite a nutty taste and very easy and cheap too!