Lentils cooking tips -
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Lentils are one of those secret-weapon ingredients. These tiny legumes are high in protein, fiber and healthy carbs, while being naturally low in sodium, sugars and fat. They're also sources of a ton of other nutrients, including potassium, zinc, magnesium, thiamin, niacin, B6 and many others.
But beyond their nutritive value, lentils are, quite simply, delicious! They come in a variety of colors and textures, so you can eat them frequently without getting bored. They are quick to cook, and require no soaking, so they are a perfect way to get more legumes into your diet without some of the fuss that most dried beans present.
They work well in all sorts of recipes , from cold salads to hearty soups , and can be either a side dish or a main course. Especially for vegetarians, vegans or people who are trying to include more plant-based meals in their diet, lentils are a way to ensure that you are getting enough protein.
Before we learn how to cook lentils, we need to know about the different varieties available. These slate-colored lentils are ideal for salads. They cook quickly on the stovetop in a similar method to making pasta and, once cooked, will last up to a week in the fridge. They have a nutty flavor and retain their shape when cooked.
Try them in these recipes:. Very Green Lentil Soup. Lentil Stew with Salsa Verde. These black lentils resemble caviar, hence the name. Similar in style to the French green lentils, with a slightly musky flavor, they also work well in salads, and can stand up to strong flavors and intense spices.
A few recipes to try:. Roasted Salmon with Lentil "Caviar". These lighter-green lentils are ideal for use in rice pilaf dishes, since they retain their shape but have a creamy center.
They also work very well for side dishes, and can be sautéed once cooked to add a bit of crisp texture. Have some on hand? Give one of these recipes a whirl:.
Lemony Lentil Salad with Salmon. Lentil Burgers. These lentils are ideal for soups and stews, where some of them will stay intact, and others will break down and get creamy, for a soup with wonderful texture.
The skins are thin, so they can also be pureed if you prefer a smooth soup. Cook them up in one of these recipes:. Lemony Lentil Soup with Collards. These lentils have been peeled, so are just the creamy interior. They will break down pretty completely during cooking, and are traditional for dishes like dal, but can also be used for unique versions of either refried-style beans or hummus or other bean dips.
Or try them in one of these recipes:. Winter Vegetable Dal. Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce. Chocolate-Banana Protein Smoothie. In general, because of their quick cooking time, dried lentils are the perfect pantry secret weapon.
Another benefit is you can season them yourself. Canned lentils are a good thing to have on hand for truly last-minute dishes, since they are already cooked and just need to be rinsed before using.
They may also have added salt, something to watch for particularly if you're watching your sodium intake.
They are also good for making dips and spreads, since they tend to have a much softer texture than you might get when cooking your own lentils from dried. You can also sometimes find vacuum-sealed cooked lentils, which have a more al dente texture than canned. Dried lentils should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Lentils will last in your pantry for up to a year before they begin to get tough. They will still be edible, but will take longer to get tender and may taste a bit bland. Cooked lentils should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge, where they can last up to five days.
If you are cooking lentils and want to still have little pops of texture, it is important not to overcook them so that you avoid mushy lentils.
Always start tasting for doneness a good 7 to 10 minutes before you think they might be done to help give you a sense of how much longer your lentils need to cook.
And tasting at least four different lentils from different areas of the pot will also help you judge cooking time. Lentils are a nutrient-dense food, rich in both protein and fiber.
Fiber has a slew of health benefits , including lowering the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Lentils are also high in the B vitamin folate , a particularly important nutrient for pregnant and lactating women.
Cooking lentils on the stovetop is simple, and just requires a few basic steps. To begin, for any style of lentil, pick through to find and discard any little rocks or debris, then rinse well. The best method for cooking French, beluga, green or brown lentils is to cook them in lots of boiling water then drain them when tender.
Scroll down for more instructions. Since red lentils break down during cooking, it is recommended to cook them in just the amount of liquid they need to become tender. Pressure cookers are great for speeding up lentil cooking. As for the stovetop, pick through for debris, and rinse well.
It will be important to follow the specific instructions that come with your cooker, but generally, you will use 2 cups of water per 1 cup of lentils. Depending on your cooker, lentils like green or brown will need to cook for 12 to 15 minutes once the pot comes to pressure; red might be done in as little as 3 to 5 minutes.
Once the pot has finished its cycle and you have followed the recommendations for releasing the pressure, drain the lentils in a colander and continue with your recipe. Bring water to a boil in a large pot if cooking red lentils use 4 cups of water; use 6 cups for all other types of lentils.
Add lentils; cook, uncovered, until tender, 15 to 25 minutes for French green and Beluga, 20 to 30 minutes for green or brown lentils, and 15 to 20 minutes for red lentils. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All comments are moderated before appearing on the site.
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Leave a review. Jump to Recipe. How to cook lentils Lentils are extremely easy to cook. Rinse the dried lentils and pick out any small stones, beans or grains that might have sneaked into the batch.
Add rinsed lentils to a saucepan and cover with a couple inches of water. Optional Season the water with a generous pinch of salt. Simmer the lentils until tender. Cook time will depend on the variety of lentil you are cooking.
Drain the lentils and serve or use in your favorite lentil recipes. Before cooking, rinse and sort the lentils. Sometimes, you will find a rogue grain or bean that sneaked in from the bulk aisle. Adding flavor Lentils cooked in water with a bit of salt are perfectly tasty, but you can add even more flavor when cooking lentils.
Here are a few ideas: Use broth or stock instead of water. Here are our recipes for veggie broth and our homemade chicken stock.
Before adding cooking liquid to the pot, sauté the lentils in a little oil with chopped vegetables like onion, carrot and celery. Add fresh or dried herbs to the cooking liquid. I love bay leaves use 1 or 2 , rosemary and thyme. Add smashed garlic cloves or a quartered onion like in our black beans recipe.
After cooking and draining the lentils, toss them with olive oil, fresh herbs and fresh lemon juice or use one of our favorite vinaigrettes. See our honey mustard dressing , the dressing for this couscous salad and this red wine vinegar dressing used in our bean salad.
Different varieties of lentils and their cook times Lentils come in a variety of colors and sizes, here is a breakdown of the most common varieties sold in stores: Brown and Green Lentils Brown lentils are what you have likely seen the most.
Cook time: 25 to 35 minutes Texture when cooked: Firm and intact, perfect for salads and side dishes Red Lentils Red lentils are my favorite. Cook time: 15 to 20 minutes Texture when cooked: Soft, almost mushy, perfect for soups, dips, daal and spreads Black Beluga Lentils Black Beluga lentils are smaller than the other varieties and are very flavorful.
Cooking lentils in a pressure cooker Instant Pot Just as with cooking lentils on the stovetop, cooking time will vary depending on the type of lentil you use. Cooking lentils in a slow cooker Just as with cooking lentils on the stovetop, cooking time will vary depending on the type of lentil you use.
How to store lentils Keep dried lentils in an airtight container in a cool dry place up to one year. Cooked lentils should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated or frozen.
Refrigerate for up to five days and freeze for up to three months. PREP 5mins COOK 30mins TOTAL 35mins. You Will Need 1 cup lentils Water or broth Salt. Directions 1 Rinse the lentils with cool water, and then quickly sort through to remove any rogue grains or beans that may have sneaked into the bag from the bulk aisle.
Adam and Joanne's Tips Tips for cooking lentils in a pressure cooker like an Instant Pot or slow cooker are provided in the article. Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values. AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher.
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Lentils are incredibly healthy …. Cooking lentils is fun, easy and delicious, but you can bring Lentuls humble legumes to Lentils cooking tips heights cookig following our Tkps to cooking lentils. We share our Lentils cooking tips and tips Lentils cooking tips Clear mind productivity lentils so you can experience the best these tiips superfoods have to offer on your plate. There are so many different types of lentils. There are the beautiful, glistening black lentils that are great in soups and as a side dish, French lentils that are firm, rich and perfect for saladsor red lentils that become creamy and are best cooked into Indian-spiced stews. Picking the right variety is vital for your end goal. Brown lentils have an earthy flavour, cook in minutes and hold their shape after being cooked, making them ideal for veggie burgers or salads. Learn how to cook dried Lentips lentils in this step-by-step tutorial. Tipa can cook a ELntils bag Lentils cooking tips once and freeze for future use! This is a post that has been several years coming! I finally got my act together to write out the process for you so that anyone can learn! This post is specifically about how to cook green or brown lentils.
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