Cooking red and green lentils. Diet dishes from lentils for weight loss

How to cook lentils correctly? Do I need to soak lentils before cooking? You know, these are the fastest grains in terms of cooking time from the entire legume family. And they don't require soaking before they're cooked. Lentils are a healthy food. It is well compatible with a variety of foods or seasonings, has a high nutritional value, and is available throughout the year. Lentils are nutritious, rich in antioxidants, selenium, vitamins that strengthen immune system. So, below are cooking tips.

How to cook lentils for a side dish, step by step

• Rinse the grains under running water, sort them out - if necessary, remove crushed, shriveled grains or small debris.
• For 1 cup of dry lentils, 2 - 2.5 cups of water are required.
• Bring the water to a boil, put the washed grains in a saucepan. Don't add salt yet! Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Then reduce the heat to a minimum, cover the pan with a lid, but leave it slightly ajar so that the water does not boil away too quickly.
• Check the pot from time to time to make sure the water hasn't sunk below the level of the lentils. Add water as needed.
• When it softens and can be easily mashed with a fork, it is ready. How long to cook lentils without soaking? It usually takes about 30-45 minutes.
• Lentils that have been stored with you for a long time do not lose their nutritional properties, they just take longer to cook.
• Don't mix fresh lentils with old ones. They cook unevenly.
• Grains of red varieties are cooked faster - 20 minutes, no more.
• Salt should be 15 minutes before the end of cooking. If you put salt in the pot at the beginning of cooking, the cooking time will double.

When the lentils are cooked through, turn off the heat. Cover the pot tightly with a lid. Let stand 5-10 minutes. During this time, it will absorb excess water, become juicier, more tender. Actually, this is not necessary, but I do it - I like it better.

What do lentils eat with, what is it compatible with, what spices

• Add diced potatoes - they will take the same amount of time to cook as lentils. You may have to add water in this case, but you can do this during the cooking process.
• Add spices along with salt. Curry powder, ground cumin, garlic, ground red pepper, cilantro all pair well with lentils. Spices can be added at any time, but the sooner, the more seasoned taste and aroma your dish will acquire.
• Lentils are usually used to make soups and stews. Green or brown varieties keep their shape quite well. If they are not digested, then they can be added, for example, to salads. For these purposes, it is enough to cook it for 10-15 minutes.
• Cooked lentils can be stored in sealed container in the refrigerator 4-5 days.

Lentils do no harm

Lentils, like any legumes, cause ... flatulence in many people. Add 1-2 cloves to the water - this problem will not affect you. In addition, cloves will add a subtle flavor to your lentils that will perfectly fit into the taste of the finished dish.

Useful properties of lentils

Like other legumes, lentils contain anti-carcinogenic substances. plant origin, rich in protein, iron, folic acid, fiber, which is very useful for digestive system and hearts. High content protein makes it an excellent meat substitute.

Lentils happen different varieties, the main difference is in the color of the grains. Red is by far the fastest to cook and is often used in Indian cuisine. However, green, brown varieties are more nutritious than red ones.

Lentils are a common staple in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. In Russia, it was also extremely popular, even bread was baked from it. But with the advent of potatoes, this cereal was undeservedly forgotten, and you can cook a lot of tasty and healthy dishes from it.

Lentils are a crop of the legume family, rich in protein and almost no fat. In terms of nutritional value, it is not inferior to meat. Due to the fact that there is a lot of iron in lentils, during heat treatment, it does not lose useful properties. This cereal is considered one of the best products for people who follow a healthy diet.

How to choose the right lentil?

It is difficult to overestimate the merits of this cereal, but in order to fully enjoy its wonderful taste, you must first do right choice. There are many varieties of lentils, and the method of preparation largely depends on the type of cereal.

The shape and size of lentils can vary greatly, but whole grains are always best.

1. French lentils have green color. This is an unripe cereal, it keeps its shape perfectly and cooks longer than other types. Perfect for salads and meat dishes.
2. Yellow lentils are peeled green lentils. It goes well with vegetables and is suitable for soups and purees.
3. Lentil Pardina is a ripened grain. It cooks very quickly and has a light nutty flavor, suitable for casseroles, soups, stews and appetizers.
4. Egyptian lentils are red in color and have no shell. Cooked quickly, used for purees, soups and vegetable stews.
5. Black lentil or beluga - similar to black caviar, used in vegetable dishes, soups and salads.

It is better not to soak the lentils, but simply sort through, separating the bad beans and pebbles, and then rinse a couple of times under running water. For salads, it needs to be cooked the least, for soups and mashed potatoes longer. It is laid in already boiling water, observing a ratio of 1: 2 (1 tbsp of cereal to 2 tbsp of water). As soon as the cereal is in the water, the fire must be immediately extinguished to a minimum and boiled for 15-45 minutes, depending on the dish you want to cook and the variety of lentils. Salt should be 5-6 minutes before readiness. After cooking, the beans acquire a delicate nutty flavor. You can cook not only in water, but use meat and mushroom broth or add a small amount of wine to the water, and after cooking - a tablespoon of lemon juice.

If you cook lentils as a side dish, add sage, rosemary, celery, Bay leaf, cloves, etc. Onions, garlic and tomatoes complement the taste wonderfully. You can also use various hot sauces: tomato, vinegar, mustard. It goes well with an olive oil-based sauce with the addition of lemon juice, mint and basil.

How to make lentil soup?

A very simple, rich and tasty soup that is prepared in just 15 minutes. For people who spend the whole day at work, and in the evening there is absolutely no energy left for cooking - this is an ideal option! The main thing is to prepare chicken or any other low-fat broth in advance.

Compound:

1. Broth - 2–2.5 liters
2. Red lentils - 250 g
3. Tomatoes - 2 pcs.
4. Onion - 1 pc.
5. Salt, pepper, spices (coriander, turmeric and Italian herbs) - to taste
6. Olive or other vegetable oil - 1-2 tbsp.
7. Carrots - 2 pcs.

Cooking:

• Put the chicken broth on the stove, bring to a boil and pour the lentils into it.
• Peel the onion and carrot, pour boiling water over the tomato and remove the peel. Cut the onion and tomato into cubes, and grate the carrots on a coarse grater. Heat up a pan with a little vegetable oil and make a fry. Add diced tomatoes and sauté a little.
• Check the lentils for readiness, usually 5-7 minutes after boiling, put the roast, salt, pepper and add spices. Boil for 2-3 more minutes.
• Let the soup brew a little, you can squeeze a few cloves of garlic. Serve with chopped herbs.

A wonderful soup with a smoked aroma and rich taste.

Compound:

1. Smoked ribs and shank - 500 g
2. Turnip - 2 pcs.
3. Carrots - 2 pcs.
4. Salt, spices, ground red Water - 3 l
5. Lentils - 300 g
6. Onion - 2 pcs.
7. pepper, herbs - to taste

Cooking:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Rinse the lentils and send to boil. Put the ribs in there.
• Peel and cut the turnip into cubes and add to the lentils.
• Peel onions, carrots and fry in oil until golden brown, put in soup.
• Cut the shank into large pieces and put in the soup when the lentils and turnips are almost ready. Drain, pepper and add spices.
• After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and let the soup brew.

What can be cooked from lentils?

Compound:

1. Lentils (preferably green) - 200 g
2. Parsley and basil - 1 bunch
3. Sulguni cheese - 200 g
4. Tomatoes - 3 pcs. (or 10 cherry tomatoes)
5. Olive oil - 2-3 tbsp.
6. Lemon juice - to taste
7. Salt - to taste

Cooking:

• Boil lentils with bay leaf, salt a little. Rinse and let cool. Place in a salad bowl.
• Cut tomatoes and cheese into cubes, if cherry - cut in half.
• Finely chop the greens. Dress the salad with olive oil and lemon juice, salt to taste.

Compound:

1. Red onion - 1 pc.
2. Sweet pepper - 1/2 pc.
3. Celery - 1 stalk
4. Olive oil - 2 tbsp.
5. Balsamic vinegar - 1 tbsp.
6. Eggs - 2-3 pcs. (depending on number of servings)
7. Champignons - 5-6 pcs.
8. Young spinach - 200 g
9. French lentils - 200 g
10. Garlic - 2-3 cloves
11. Salt, pepper, Provence herbs - to taste

Cooking:

• Boil lentils until tender.
• Peel the onion and cut into half rings, finely chop the garlic and celery.
• Pour 1 tbsp into a deep frying pan. olive oil and fry the onion, garlic and celery.
• Peel the carrots, cut into cubes and send to the vegetables.
• Remove the seeds from the sweet pepper, cut into cubes, and mushrooms into slices and also put them in the fry.
• Cover and simmer until vegetables are fully cooked.
• Add chopped spinach and lentils to the pan, mix, pour in balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and season with spices.
• Fry the eggs in another pan.
• Serve in portions, laying a slide on each plate, and a fried egg on top.

How to cook lentils in a slow cooker?

Compound:

1. Olive oil - 1 tbsp.
2. Green onions - 4 feathers
3. Tomatoes - 3 pcs.
4. Garlic - 2 cloves
5. Grated ginger - 50 g
6. Vegetable broth or water - 500 ml.
7. Onion - 2 pcs.
8. Lentils - 500 g
9. Sweet pepper - 1 pc.
10. Carrots - 2 pcs.
11. Bay leaf - 1 pc.
12. Curry powder - 1 tbsp

Cooking:

• Onions, carrots, peppers, tomatoes cut into cubes. Pour into the multicooker olive oil, add the vegetables and select the Browning or Uncovered mode and fry the vegetables for 10-12 minutes.
• Pour lentils in a slow cooker, pour in hot broth, put bay leaf, garlic, salt, pepper, add curry, ginger and chopped green onion feathers.
• Close the lid and select the Bean or Rice mode for 10 minutes.
• Served with chopped cilantro.

Lentils are a real champion among cereals in terms of protein and folic acid content! This dish is very popular among vegetarians because of its nutritional properties nothing beats the meat. For meat-eaters who observe fasts, it is also indispensable. Lentil dishes are easy to prepare, but they turn out to be very tasty, satisfying and healthy.

Lentils are soft beans that are sold dried. It can be consumed in the form of cereals, soups, side dishes, stews, meatballs. But in order to achieve an unforgettable taste of a dish from these beans, you need to know how to cook lentils. Modern recipes will allow you to achieve a delicious culinary masterpiece when using a slow cooker or traditional way on the stove.

How long to cook lentils until tender

Before cooking lentils, it must be sorted out, separating garbage, pieces of earth, and husks. For convenience, lay the beans on a white paper towel or plate. Place the prepared lentils in a sieve and rinse under cold running water for a minute. Having decided to cook porridge from these beans for the first time, many housewives have a question: is it necessary to soak lentils before cooking? In order for the grains to retain their shape and not become very soft during cooking, they do not need to be soaked first.

Depending on the dish you are going to cook, the cooking time for lentils can be from 10 to 45 minutes. If you purchased split beans, then after 10-20 minutes you will have a mushy mass. Such lentils are quickly boiled soft, so they are ideal for mashed soups. You can increase the boil for whole beans to 45 minutes by leaving the lentils to simmer, covered, until completely softened.

Features of cooking red, black, green and yellow lentils

There are about 11 varieties of lentils that differ in their color, grain shape, taste, and even cooking method. The popularity of this product is growing every year, so it is important to know how lentils are useful and how to cook them. The usefulness lies in, iron, B vitamins, folic acid, potassium, carbohydrates, as a result of which lentils have become an integral part of the diet of all people. Regular consumption of dishes from these beans is beneficial for:

• diseases gastrointestinal tract;
• normalization of the urinary system.

First you need to decide for which dish you are buying these beans and what you are going to cook. If you plan to cook porridge, then you need to purchase French green or brown, black lentils. Beans of this color tend to retain the shape of the grains without turning into a puree mass. For soups and stews, red, yellow, orange lentils should be used, as in the process of cooking they quickly and strongly soften, turning into porridge.

How to cook lentils in a slow cooker

In order not to take a lot of personal time, we recommend using a slow cooker. This unique multifunctional device will allow you to get the finished dish without additional difficulties. You need to prepare the right ingredients and place them in the multicooker bowl. For cooking you will need the following ingredients:

• washed green lentils - 1 multi-cup;
• water - 1 multi-glass;
• grain mustard - 1 tbsp. l.;
• sweet pepper - 1 pc.;
• freshly ground chili pepper - 1 tbsp. l.;
• finely chopped one celery root;
• canned corn- 200 g;
• tomato sauce- 4 tbsp. l.

The cooking process includes several stages:

1. Carefully place the indicated ingredients in the multicooker bowl and mix with a plastic spatula.
2. Modern multicookers are equipped with many functions, among which is the "Multipovar" mode. Select this function, close the top cover of the device and you have one hour of free time while the technician prepares a gorgeous lentil dish for you.

What dishes are prepared from lentils

There are a large number of options for preparing lentil dishes. These beans can be used on their own as hearty cereals or in complex culinary creations. To diversify breakfasts or surprise the family for dinner, prepare dishes based on lentils. You can, cutlets, a side dish for meat, and there are also recipes that detail how to combine lentils with other types of cereals, vegetables.

Suggestion: To enhance the flavor of a cooked lentil dish, add a couple of bay leaves or a pinch of dried sage. You can also use celery root or leaves, parsley or rosemary. Lentil dishes are recommended to be salted and peppered at the very end of cooking.

How to make puree soup

Puree soup is a thick soup that needs to be cooked with a large number vegetables or cereals. To get the most healthy, tasty and satisfying dish, we recommend preparing lentil puree soup. The correctness of preparation depends on the accuracy of compliance with all proportions. necessary ingredients. For this soup you will need:

• red lentil beans - 200 gr;
• chicken broth - 2 cups;
• finely chopped red onion (medium) - 1 pc.;
• a spoonful of tomato paste;
• grated carrots - 1 pc.;
• a pinch of cumin and pepper;
• salt - 0.5 tsp;
• clove of garlic;
• a slice of lemon and mint leaves;
• submersible blender;
• pot.

Puree soup is prepared according to the following technology:

1. Combine the lentils, broth, onion, carrot, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, and pepper in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables and beans are completely tender. This will take approximately 25 minutes.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly soften the soup ingredients with an immersion blender. You should get a puree-like mass. When mixing, be careful not to splatter the hot soup, use low speed.
4. Then you need to add salt and squeeze a slice of lemon. You can garnish with mint leaves on top if you like.

Lentils with chicken meat

For a family dinner for two you will need:

• 300 grams of chicken breast;
• a glass of brown lentils;
• three glasses of water;
• a tablespoon of tomato paste;
• salt, pepper, cumin, curry;
• big bulb.

We'll tell you step by step, with chicken meat.

1. Prepare chicken breast, having previously dressed the sirloin meat from the bones and skin.
2. Cut the meat into large pieces and fry with chopped onion and tomato paste. The chicken breast takes about 10 minutes to cook.
3. Then boil the lentils for 15 minutes.
4. Combine all ingredients in a heat-resistant bowl and place in the oven to bake for another 10 minutes.
5. For the dish to get beautiful colour and rich flavor, add a teaspoon of curry.

How to cook delicious lentils with vegetables

Lentils go well with all vegetables. You can cook it with potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin, onions. But in order to do this, you need to prepare the following components for this:

• two large potatoes;
• ginger root;
• clove of garlic;
• one carrot;
• curry - 1 tbsp;
• one glass of red lentils;
• three glasses of water;
• broth - 1 glass;
• vegetable oil;
• deep frying pan.

1. First you need to boil the lentils for 10-15 minutes until half cooked.
2. Then put chopped garlic, ginger and curry into a preheated pan.
3. After a couple of minutes, add the carrots and potatoes, which were previously diced. It takes about 5 minutes to cook.
4. Then put the lentils in the pan and fill everything with broth.
5. After five minutes, you can serve to the table, garnishing with a slice of lime on top.

How to make lentil porridge

Lentil cereals are distinguished by the presence of a large amount of vitamins. To properly cook such porridge, you need to strictly adhere to the proportions. You need to cook in a ratio of 1: 3, that is, pour three glasses into a saucepan per glass of beans cold water. Also, don't use split beans for cereals, because they quickly turn into a puree. Fill the lentils with water, cook for an average of 15 minutes. Cooking time may increase if you use black or brown lentils for porridge, which must be cooked for at least 25 minutes.

Dishes from lentils for weight loss

The peculiarity of these beans is that they do not contain fat in their composition. The calorie content of cooked lentils reaches only 111 kcal. Therefore, you can use the lentil diet to normalize weight. Daily consumption of cereals will contribute to rapid weight loss. The recipe is simple, so you can easily and quickly prepare it for breakfast. You will need:

• red lentils - 100 g;
• water - 3 glasses;
• chopped half of the onion;
• carrots, grated - 1 pc.;
• vegetable oil - 2 tbsp. l.;

Pour thoroughly washed beans cold water and set to cook for 15 minutes. From vegetables, make dressing for porridge in a pan, frying carrots and onions until golden brown. Combine all prepared ingredients and mix. For dietary porridge, do not use seasonings and salt. With this breakfast, you will be full all day and the diet will not cause difficulties in following it.

Lentil cutlets: the best recipe with a photo

Traditional meat cutlets you can substitute lentils. The recipe is simple, so to repeat it you will need to cook everything for no more than 30 minutes. First you need to decide on the ingredients and kitchen appliances that you need to prepare in advance. To make everything go quickly and accurately, stick to the following list:

• red or green lentils - half a cup.
• coarse salt - a pinch.
• two big eggs.
• one cup of breadcrumbs.
• parsley - 2 sprigs.
• olive oil - 2 tbsp.
• red onion - 1 head.
• one large carrot.
• cumin - ½ tsp
• coriander - ½ tsp
• garlic - 3 cloves.
• large frying pan.
• spatula for turning cutlets.
• Bowl.
• blender.

Cooking lentil cutlets consists of the following steps:

1. Pour 3 cups of water over the lentil beans and bring to a boil. The whole cooking process will take about 20 minutes. Then drain the water and let cool completely in a separate bowl.

1. Place the remaining beans 1/2 teaspoon salt, diced red onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, coriander, cumin, coarsely grated carrots, and parsley in a blender. Mix everything until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

1. Then heat a large frying pan, after pouring oil into it. Shape into small round lentil patties by rolling lightly in breadcrumbs. Place carefully in the pan and fry on one side until crispy and Brown color. Approximately 4 minutes to cook. Then you need to turn the cutlets on reverse side and repeat the frying process.

1. Remove the cooked lentil cutlets from the pan into a separate container. When they have cooled, put on a large dish, pre-garnished with lettuce. Top cutlets can pour sour cream or mayonnaise, sprinkle with chopped red onion and parsley.

Video recipe: The most delicious lentil side dish

Lentil beans are perfect for cooking different dishes, and also as side dishes for meat, fish. To do this, you will need twenty minutes of free time and ingredients that are easy to find in your kitchen. If you don’t know, we recommend watching a video where the chef tells in detail the amazing recipe for making a side dish. Also provided are the exact proportions of the required ingredients for this dish so that you can repeat it at home.

As long as human civilization exists, so many people grow and eat lentils. This legume it is thermophilic, therefore, among the Slavic peoples you will not find it in folk cuisines. But in the Mediterranean countries, it is used everywhere and in honor as an inexpensive, healthy and easy-to-prepare product. And most importantly, very tasty! Indeed, it was for lentil soup, and not for honey cakes, that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis: 25). With us, this small bean, similar to peas, can be bought in almost all supermarkets. In this article, we'll show you how to cook delicious lentils, what secrets you need to know in order not to digest it, and which variety you need to choose for different dishes.

The benefits and calorie content of the product

There are very few fats in lentils - only 2 g per 100 g of product, but a lot of protein and carbohydrates - 21 g and 49 g, respectively. However, it is quite a nutritious product. His the energy value- 298 calories. The composition of lentils includes an easily digestible protein in the body. Also, this type of legume contains boron, iodine, potassium, calcium, cobalt, manganese and copper, iron and zinc, cobalt and molybdenum. Lentils are also rich in isoflavones - substances that are useful for the prevention of breast cancer. The folic acid contained in it strengthens the immune system, has a beneficial effect on metabolism, and normalizes the functioning of the genitourinary system. Lentils are prescribed in therapeutic diets. It is mainly used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and especially for ulcers. The product is also useful with a high composition of vitamins, especially PP, A and group B. But you need to know how to cook lentils so that these beneficial properties do not dissolve in boiling water and evaporate with steam.

Which variety to choose

Since ancient times, two varieties of small lentils have been known - red and brown. They grew in Egypt, Israel, Syria - countries with a very hot climate. The French, reputed to be great gourmets, tried to create a variety of lentils that would be adapted to cooler winters, and they succeeded. True, the lentils turned out green. She, like other types of legumes, needs a longer preparation.

But the taste is simply wonderful - tender, somewhat reminiscent of fresh peas. Based on which variety you purchased, green French or red and brown Egyptian, it's worth considering how to cook the lentils. The first grade does not boil soft, keeps its shape perfectly and is suitable for side dishes. Brown lentils can turn into porridge if handled carelessly, so care must be taken not to overcook them. Red makes an excellent puree.

The mild taste of Egyptian lentils harmonizes well with meat, poultry and mushrooms. To diversify and enrich the neutral taste of the side dish, add spices and herbs when cooking. Before cooking, it must be carefully sorted out and rinsed in cool water, removing debris. Some recipes even advise soaking green lentils before cooking. Then it is poured with cold water in a ratio of 1: 2 and put on a small fire. When the liquid boils, add a little olive oil (about half a tablespoon) and a variety of seasonings: rosemary, bay leaf, sage, celery. green lentils cook under the lid ajar for about 40 minutes, stirring regularly so as not to burn.

Brown and red are thrown into boiling water and boiled under a closed lid for 25 and 20 minutes, respectively. You need to salt the side dish only 5 minutes before the end of the cooking process.

Lentils in a slow cooker

Modern kitchen devices are designed to facilitate the work of the cook. If you have a slow cooker in your house, you do not need to conjure at the stove, constantly stirring the lentils. Your side dish will not boil or burn. It is enough just to measure the right amount of water, and the device itself will maintain the specified temperature regime. In a slow cooker, you can also cook red lentil soup, and it is better to stew the brown variety with meat.

Here is a basic recipe for how to cook lentils in a slow cooker. Chop the onion into half rings, and the medium-sized carrot into straws. Put them in the bowl of the car. Pour the vegetables with a tablespoon of vegetable oil and turn on the unit to the “Frying” mode. Set the time to 15 minutes. Rinse lentils (one multi-cup) and add to fried vegetables. Fill with cold water. If the lentils have been pre-soaked, you will need two multi-glasses of liquid, and if not, four. We set the mode "Buckwheat". Meat can also be cooked along with the side dish. We lay out its pieces on the grate, put on top. In this case, select the "Steam cooking" mode, and set the timer to 40 minutes.

Sultry breath of India

Now let's look at individual recipes. So, what can be cooked from lentils? Let's turn to the cuisine of those countries where this type of legume has been used for centuries for inspiration. Let's prepare a popular Indian dish - dhansak. It can be cooked with shrimp, chicken, lamb, but the base is red lentils. We wash 350 grams of the main product, put it in a saucepan, salt, pepper (black and hot red), fill it with water. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat until soft. If there is too much water, it must be drained; if not enough, add boiling water. At the same time, heat a spoon or two of vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the following spices for about two minutes: 6 boxes of crushed cardamom, 2 teaspoons of mustard seeds, turmeric, cinnamon and chili powder. Add to them two finely chopped onions, chopped 10 cm ginger root, 4 cloves of garlic. We fry it all for five minutes. Put shrimp or meat in the pan. Cook, stirring, until done. Add pineapple chunks, 8 small chopped tomatoes and boiled lentils. Pour a little hot water and simmer covered for about five minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving.

Pour 3 liters of water into a large saucepan, salt and pepper, put on fire. We lower there two carrots cut into large pieces and a chopped large onion. When the vegetables are completely cooked, add 150 g of brown or red lentils and various seasonings (parsley, dill, garlic, Provence herbs). Cook for 20-25 minutes until the lentils are soft. Cool the soup a little and grind the contents with a blender. Pour a glass of cream, bring to a boil and serve on the table with croutons.

Vegetarian meatballs

And here is a recipe for how to cook lentils as an independent dish. To do this, use its red variety in the amount of 350 g. Pour the lentils with cold water and leave overnight in a cool place. In the morning, change the liquid and set to cook until tender. Blend to a puree in a blender or food processor. You need to try to make the porridge very thick. To do this, spread the puree on a piece of durable cloth and squeeze out the excess liquid. Add a teaspoon of red pepper, salt, cumin, chopped cilantro, a pinch of black pepper to the lentils. Mix the puree well. We form meatballs with the palms, bread in breadcrumbs and fry in melted butter until golden brown. In a separate cup, mix 225 g of natural yogurt with the juice of one lemon. Pour hot meatballs with this sauce.

Salad

How to cook lentils for a snack? First, prepare the salad dressing. Mix hot pepper, three leaves of basil and a clove of garlic, rub with a pestle and pour in two tablespoons of olive oil. In a salad bowl we chop 10 cherry tomatoes, 2-3 green onion feathers, three 50 g hard cheese. Separately, cook 100 g of green lentils. When it cools down, add it to the salad. Stir and pour in flavored oil.

Lentils are a common staple in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. In Russia, it was also extremely popular, even bread was baked from it. But with the advent of potatoes, this cereal was undeservedly forgotten, and you can cook a lot of tasty and healthy dishes from it.

Lentils are a crop of the legume family, rich in protein and practically free of fat. In terms of its nutritional value, it is not inferior to meat. Thanks to Lentils are rich in iron during heat treatment, it does not lose its useful properties. This cereal is considered one of the best foods for people who adhere to proper nutrition.

How to choose the right lentil?

It is difficult to overestimate the merits of this cereal, but in order to fully enjoy its wonderful taste, you must first make the right choice. There are many varieties of lentils, and the method of preparation largely depends on the type of cereal.

The shape and size of lentils can vary greatly, but whole grains are always best.

1. French lentils are green in color. This is an unripe cereal, it keeps its shape perfectly and cooks longer than other types. Perfect for salads and meat dishes.
2. Yellow lentils are peeled green lentils. It goes well with vegetables and is suitable for soups and purees.
3. Lentil Pardina is a ripened grain. It cooks very quickly and has a light nutty flavor, suitable for casseroles, soups, stews and appetizers.
4. Egyptian lentils are red in color and have no shell. Cooked quickly, used for purees, soups and vegetable stews.
5. Black lentil or beluga - similar to black caviar, used in vegetable dishes, soups and salads.

Lentils should not be soaked, but simply sort through, separating bad beans and pebbles, and then rinse a couple of times under running water. For salads, it needs to be cooked the least, for soups and mashed potatoes longer. She is it is laid in already boiling water, observing the ratio of 1: 2(1 tbsp. cereals to 2 tbsp. water). As soon as the cereal is in the water, the fire must be immediately extinguished to a minimum and cook for 15-45 minutes, depending on the dish you want to cook and the variety of lentils. Salt should be 5-6 minutes before cooking. After cooking, the beans acquire a delicate nutty flavor. You can cook not only in water, but use meat and mushroom broth or add a small amount of wine to the water, and after cooking - a tablespoon of lemon juice.

If you are cooking lentils as a side dish, add sage, rosemary, celery, bay leaves, cloves, etc. to the lentils. Wonderful complement the taste of onions, garlic and tomatoes. You can also use various hot sauces: tomato, vinegar, mustard. It goes well with an olive oil-based sauce with the addition of lemon juice, mint and basil.

How to make lentil soup?

A very simple, rich and tasty soup that is prepared in just 15 minutes. For people who spend the whole day at work, and in the evening there is absolutely no energy left for cooking - this is an ideal option! The main thing is to prepare chicken or any other low-fat broth in advance.

Quick lentil soup

Compound:

1. Broth - 2-2.5 l
2. Red lentils - 250 g
3. Tomatoes - 2 pcs.
4. Onion - 1 pc.
5. Salt, pepper, spices (coriander, turmeric and Italian herbs) - to taste
6. Olive or other vegetable oil - 1-2 tbsp.
7. Carrots - 2 pcs.

Cooking:

• Put the chicken broth on the stove, bring to a boil and pour the lentils into it.
• Peel the onion and carrot, pour boiling water over the tomato and remove the peel. Cut the onion and tomato into cubes, and grate the carrots on a coarse grater. Heat a frying pan with a little vegetable oil and fry. Add diced tomatoes and sauté a little.
• Check the lentils for readiness, usually 5-7 minutes after boiling, put the roast, salt, pepper and add spices. Boil for 2-3 more minutes.
• Let the soup brew a little, you can squeeze a few cloves of garlic. Serve with chopped herbs.

Lentil soup with smoked meats

A wonderful soup with a smoked aroma and rich taste.

Compound:

1. Smoked ribs and knuckle - 500 g
2. Turnip - 2 pcs.
3. Carrots - 2 pcs.
4. Salt, spices, red ground Water - 3 l
5. Lentils - 300 g
6. Onion - 2 pcs.
7. pepper, herbs - to taste

Cooking:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Rinse the lentils and send to boil. Put the ribs in there.
• Peel and cut the turnip into cubes and add to the lentils.
• Peel onions, carrots and fry in oil until golden brown, put in soup.
• Cut the shank into large pieces and put in the soup when the lentils and turnips are almost ready. Drain, pepper and add spices.
• After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and let the soup brew.

What can be cooked from lentils?

Salad with lentils and cheese

Compound:

1. Lentils (preferably green) - 200 g
2. Parsley and basil - 1 bunch
3. Sulguni cheese - 200 g
4. Tomatoes - 3 pcs. (or 10 cherry tomatoes)
5. Olive oil - 2-3 tbsp.
6. Lemon juice - to taste
7. Salt - to taste

Cooking:

• Boil lentils with bay leaf, salt a little. Rinse and let cool. Place in a salad bowl.
• Tomatoes and cheese cut into cubes, if cherry - cut in half.
• Finely chop the greens. Dress the salad with olive oil and lemon juice, salt to taste.

Vegetable stew with lentils

Compound:

1. Red onion - 1 pc.
2. Sweet pepper - 1/2 pc.
3. Celery - 1 stalk
4. Olive oil - 2 tbsp
5. Balsamic vinegar - 1 tbsp.
6. Eggs - 2-3 pcs. (depending on number of servings)
7. Champignons - 5-6 pcs.
8. Young spinach - 200 g
9. French lentils - 200 g
10. Garlic - 2-3 cloves
11. Salt, pepper, Provence herbs - to taste

Cooking:

• Boil lentils until tender.
• Peel the onion and cut into half rings, finely chop the garlic and celery.
• Pour 1 tbsp into a deep frying pan. olive oil and fry the onion, garlic and celery.
• Peel the carrots, cut into cubes and send to the vegetables.
• Remove the seeds from the sweet pepper, cut into cubes, and mushrooms into slices and also put them in the fry.
• Cover and simmer until vegetables are fully cooked.
• Add chopped spinach and lentils to the pan, mix, pour in balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and season with spices.
• Fry the eggs in another pan.
• Serve in portions, laying a slide on each plate, and a fried egg on top.

How to cook lentils in a slow cooker?

Lentil curry in a slow cooker

Compound:

1. Olive oil - 1 tbsp
2. Green onions - 4 feathers
3. Tomatoes - 3 pcs.
4. Garlic - 2 cloves
5. Grated ginger - 50 g
6. Vegetable broth or water - 500 ml.
7. Onion - 2 pcs.
8. Lentils - 500 g
9. Sweet pepper - 1 pc.
10. Carrots - 2 pcs.
11. Bay leaf - 1 pc.
12. Curry powder - 1 tbsp

Cooking:

• Onions, carrots, peppers, tomatoes cut into cubes. Pour olive oil into the multicooker, add vegetables and select the Toasting or Uncovered mode and fry the vegetables for 10-12 minutes.
• Pour lentils in a slow cooker, pour in hot broth, put bay leaf, garlic, salt, pepper, add curry, ginger and chopped green onion feathers.
• Close the lid and select the Bean or Rice mode for 10 minutes.
• Served with chopped cilantro.

real lentils record holder among cereals in terms of protein and folic acid content! This dish is very popular among vegetarians, because its nutritional properties are in no way inferior to meat. For meat-eaters who observe fasts, it is also indispensable. Lentil dishes are easy to prepare, but they turn out to be very tasty, satisfying and healthy.