Lentil is a great side dish. It is rich in protein and fiber. This rather inexpensive food cooks in less than 30 minutes and has a great nutty flavor which tastes even better with seasoning. Not only is lentil good to add in soups and pastas but it can also be eaten as a side dish either hot or cold. Lentils is liberally used in the cuisines of Middle East, France and India. There are many types of lentils such as brown, green and red and all of them contain a lot of protein, calcium, potassium and vitamin A. They come in different colors, shapes and sizes. They are a nutritional diet for vegetarians as they are abundant in protein. Lentils are generally boiled first in order to make them tender and are then seasoned according to taste. Here is a simple lentil recipe with two seasoning variations that will make a great side dish for lunch/dinner.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 20 minutes
Resources Required:
- 1 or 2 cups of lentils (1 cup serves 2 people)
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 onion
- Spices according to taste
- Deep bottomed pan
Instructions:
1. Cleaning and washing the lentils
Take the lentils and pick out any small rocks or debris or shriveled lentils which can sometimes be found mixed in the lentils. Then wash them thoroughly over cold running water.
2. Boiling the lentils
Put the lentils in a deep pan and make sure the depth of the pan is at least three times as much as the quantity of lentils as the lentils tend to expand to twice the volume and the other ingredients also add to the volume. Hence, the bigger the pot, the better it is. Add water to the lentils and the ratio should be 2 cups of water to 1 cup of lentils but it also depends on how watery you want your lentils to be. Bring your lentils to a boil. You can also chop one onion and add it in. If the lentils have become tender, you can add salt in it. Lentils can be had in this simple manner with only salt, however, you can also season them in different ways to get a yummier taste.
3. Indian spicy seasoning
You can turn your lentils into an Indian dish by adding various spices to it such as ginger, cinnamon, red chilies, turmeric powder and curry leaves. This will make it a brilliant and spicy side dish to have with breads.
4. Comfort soup made out of lentils and vegetables
This would be perfect to sip upon on a cold winter day. After the lentils have been cooked, you must add some diced potatoes, spinach or any other vegetable, cumin and tomato and allow your soup to simmer for a while. Make sure you add more water as you want it to be of a soup-like consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can I cook dried lentils?
Firstly, you must measure out the quantity of lentils you would like to cook. Make sure to pick out any debris, rocks from the lentils before rinsing them thoroughly in cold water. Put the lentils in a deep pan with water that is twice the proportion of lentils and bring it to a boil and then simmer the lentils over low flame until tender. You can drain out any surplus water, if desired, and also season them according to your taste.
Quick Tips:
1. Ingredients that are acidic in nature like lemons, tomatoes or wine should be added after the lentils are cooked, otherwise it prolongs the cooking time.
2. Do not add salt while cooking the lentils otherwise they become hard. You should add salt when the lentils turn tender.
3. Do not mix old lentils with the new ones because old lentils take more time to cook as opposed to the new ones. Mixing can cause unevenness in the tenderness of lentil dish.
Things To Watch Out For:
If you want to cook your lentils in a pressure cooker, then make sure you add one teaspoon of oil in order to prevent the scum from blocking or escaping the safety valve of your pressure cooker.
