Lentils, lentils, lentils!!

Tink_04

Ok I use red lentils to pad out dishes and that's about it!

I'd love to cook more with them but I'm so confused buy the different types and what to use them with. Are tinned as good/cheap as normal dried? And what's the difference between red and green!

What can I make apart from lentil soup?

Any help would be great!

moneyistooshorttomention

Probably the best advice, I think, would be to get a copy of Rose Elliott's "The Bean Book". It's specifically on pulses.

It's 1970s/80s vegetarian cookbook and I expect there are probably quite a few available on Amazon for pennies.

shandyclover

My kids are vegan so I cook a lot of lentils and beans.

IMHO, lentils and beans taste best in their original ethnic recipes, as they are quite bland they do need some jazzing up and other cultures have really perfected this. Each type of lentil and bean has a specific taste and texture, so usually the traditional recipes have been adapted over the years to make the best use of their qualities. I try to follow recipes set in cook books for types of lentils and not mix it around too much as they are not all easily interchangeable.

red lentils are fast cooking and good to make lemon dhal...http://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-dal-s-story.html

green or puy lentils are used in a lot of middle eastern and french recipes ...http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/middle_eastern_lentils_38158

Red kidney beans as you know are the main feature in chilli con carne, but the punjabi's also do a delicious rich curry with them...http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe/Rajma-Masala-Sanjeev-Kapoor-Kitchen-FoodFood.html

Chick peas are found in many different cultures, this is my family's favorite recipe with them...http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/10/moroccan-spinach-and-chickpeas-recipe.html

Once you start looking, particularly at indian/spanish/mexican/arabic recipes, you will find loads of variety - usually what I do is google the actual bean or lentil name to get plenty of recipe options. We have dry lentils to soak overnight, but the beans I use canned.

melanzana

Lentils, lentils lentils =

Wind, wind wind lol.

For me anyway. So I won't touch them anymore for my own sake and those around me.

Sorry I wasn't much help there with the OP.

Anne_Marie_2

Didn't even know that you could buy tinned lentils. I would imagine though that it would be cheaper to buy dried.
Red lentils cook really quickly and go into a mush, which is ideal for padding out other foods, and for soups.
Green lentils hold their shape, so use them when you don't want lentils all mushed up. Nice in a salad or a casserole. I use for soup too.
There are other varieties, I like Puy lentils (think they are also called French lentils), they are a greyish green colour. Good in a casserole or in a salad.

I make a dhal using red lentils, ready in about 15 mins. Can be done on the stove top or in a microwave.

Loads of recipes using lentils - lasagne, burgers, stuffed vegetables, all sorts of soups and casseroles, spread/pate, lentil rather than chick pea hummus, lentil loaf...only scratching the surface here. A very versatile ingredient and grossly under-rated.

suki1964

I just made the cheese and lentil loaf as suggested on a thread in here

OMG. It's lovely

DH who is a total carnivore, thought it was a quiche. He hadn't a clue it was lentils. I'm going to make the chick pea burgers very very soon


What I have learned about lentils is they can take some serious flavourings.

melanzana

suki1964 wrote: »

I just made the cheese and lentil loaf as suggested on a thread in here

OMG. It's lovely

DH who is a total carnivore, thought it was a quiche. He hadn't a clue it was lentils. I'm going to make the chick pea burgers very very soon


What I have learned about lentils is they can take some serious flavourings.

Have you a link to those recipes please?

Despite my dislike of lentils, I do have several veggie friends, and always on the lookout for something to make for them when they visit me! thanks.

SailorSam

I've probably got a dozen or more different types of lentils & beans, Morrisons always had a good selection. But all the supermarkets seem to be getting rid of them and there isn't the same choice. I've checked on the Internet and China Town seems the most likely place, next time i go into town i'm planning to go and see what they have there.

suki1964

melanzana wrote: »

Have you a link to those recipes please?

Despite my dislike of lentils, I do have several veggie friends, and always on the lookout for something to make for them when they visit me! thanks.

I can't take credit for this, it was mentioned on the 'what's for dinner' thread http://www.food.com/recipe/cheese-and-lentil-loaf-96816

Now I made it up to needing an egg, and whilst I was waiting for my hens to do their business I was dipping in and it was delish just as a dip. Baked and it tastes like a really wholesome quiche

The chickpea burgers were on Shop Well For Leas this week. Basically a couple of cans of chickpeas mashed with a can of sweet corn , add the flavour of choice , make into burgers and grill

I'm sure the reciepe will be on the website or FB page

I prefer hot, curry, middle eastern flavours and red/yellow lentils and chickpeas really do take them well

The other day I made sweet potato, chickpea and spinich masala. Was lovely. So filling, so cheap. The expensive ingredient was the spinich

melanzana

suki1964 wrote: »

I can't take credit for this, it was mentioned on the 'what's for dinner' thread http://www.food.com/recipe/cheese-and-lentil-loaf-96816

Now I made it up to needing an egg, and whilst I was waiting for my hens to do their business I was dipping in and it was delish just as a dip. Baked and it tastes like a really wholesome quiche

The chickpea burgers were on Shop Well For Leas this week. Basically a couple of cans of chickpeas mashed with a can of sweet corn , add the flavour of choice , make into burgers and grill

I'm sure the reciepe will be on the website or FB page

I prefer hot, curry, middle eastern flavours and red/yellow lentils and chickpeas really do take them well

The other day I made sweet potato, chickpea and spinich masala. Was lovely. So filling, so cheap. The expensive ingredient was the spinich

Thanks so much for that!

DundeeDoll

Brilliant timing. Have been sorting food cupboard and come across various pulses including red and green lentils, and also mung beans. Looking forward to trying the lentil loaf