What to cook with lentils. How much water do you need

Beans, due to their beneficial properties, have long been included in the diet, lentil grains are considered especially popular, from which side dishes and cereals are prepared. Given that this legume has different varieties, many housewives will undoubtedly have a question: “how to cook lentils properly”? In fact, there are no difficulties in this, the main thing is to know exactly how much each type of grain is brewed, and what cooking features it has.

Not only ordinary cereals can be made from lentils. No less popular are side dishes prepared on the basis of these legumes. The very technology of creating a dish is simple, you just need to decide in advance what type of lentils it will be prepared from - red, brown, black or green. This will help you quickly make a light, low-calorie lunch or dinner.

It is believed that red grains are not suitable for garnishing, since they tend to boil quickly, becoming mashed. But, nevertheless, the red variety has a pleasant spicy taste, and this is the most important condition in order to cook such a delicious dish.

Ingredients

• Red lentils - 150 gr.
• Tomatoes - 2 pcs.
• Meat broth - 100 gr.
• Onion - 1 pc.
• Carrot - 1 pc.
• Garlic - 1-2 cloves.
• Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. l.
• Thyme - 2 sprigs (we use only greens).

Spices for garnish(put to taste): ground black pepper, rosemary (dried), chili, paprika (red), salt, turmeric.

How to prepare a side dish

1. Wash and clean vegetables.
2. Cut the onion into half rings.
3. Three carrots on a fine (or medium) grater.
4. Pour the cut into the pan, pour the vegetables with vegetable oil and fry them for no more than 2-3 minutes, until a light blush. Saute everything over medium heat.
5. Soak the lentil red plates in water for a few minutes.
6. We make cuts on the surface of the tomatoes, after which the fruits are placed in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
7. Remove the skin from the tomatoes and cut the vegetables into small cubes.
8. We shift the tomato slices into a pan with onions and carrots, and continue to sauté the vegetables for another 3 minutes over medium heat.
9. Add salt, lentils and meat broth to the passerovka. Mix everything and simmer the vegetables for 2 minutes.
10. We skip the garlic through the press, then put it together with herbs and other spices in the garnish.
11. Finally, we simmer the beans with vegetables for another 5-7 minutes over low heat, after which the dish can be considered ready.

Serve hot red lentil garnish. It is best to present it with fish or meat dishes. It is advisable to serve legumes with sauce or ketchup, you can even make a dressing for a side dish from the red lentils themselves.

Ingredients

• - 5 glasses + -
• - 1.5 cups + -
• - 1 piece + -
• - at the tip of a knife + -
• - 1 piece + -
• — 1 tsp or to taste + -
• — 0.5 tsp or to taste + -
• - 1-2 tablespoons + -
• - 2 teeth + -
• Thyme - 2 sprigs + -

How to cook delicious lentils

It is not difficult to prepare a delicious green variety, the main thing is to know exactly how much you need to cook the grains so that they do not lose their shape.

Since of all the popular types of this legume, green lentils are cooked the longest, many housewives avoid it when preparing a side dish. However, green plates taste no worse than red and brown varieties, so they can be safely added to vegetable or meat side dishes.

1. A few hours before cooking, soak the bean grains: pour water into the pan and pour the lentils into it. Be sure to add water.
2. We heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan, then add the garlic crushed under the press to it for frying. You can also grind garlic cloves by hand.
3. When after 30 sec. garlic is stewed in vegetable oil - reduce the heat to a minimum flame and put a piece of butter in the pan.
4. When the butter melts, we send finely chopped carrots and onions to a preheated pan. Stew the cut until it acquires a pleasant softness and a beautiful transparent color.
5. We take out the lentils, which were previously soaked, from the water as soon as they “swell” and become soft. It is important not to overdo it and prevent it from losing its shape.
6. We shift the lentil grains into a pan, add chopped thyme to it (we use only leaves) and fry everything over high heat. Do not forget to stir the garnish.

We serve the finished dish exclusively hot. Before serving, it can be sprinkled with fresh chopped herbs or aromatic spices. It is not worth storing boiled lentils for a long time, even as a side dish. It is better to eat the portions made on the day of preparation.

From this variety of legumes, it is easy to make a delicious dinner for the whole family in just 30 minutes. Brown grains cook faster than others, but there are a lot of features in their preparation, the knowledge of which is indispensable. Therefore, we will tell you in detail about how to cook dark lentils in a step-by-step recipe.

Ingredients

• Brown lentils - 1 cup;
• Tomato paste - 3 tbsp. l.;
• Boiled rice (basmati) - 4 cups;
• Garlic - 3 cloves;
• Red onion - 2 cups;
• Salt - ¼ tsp;
• Vegetable (or olive) oil - 2 tsp;
• Cilantro (fresh) - ¼ cup;
• Vegetable broth - 3 cups;
• Spices - to taste.

Cooking

1. Soak the brown lentils in water first.
2. Wash and clean vegetables.
3. Finely chop the onion, garlic and cilantro.
4. Heat the oil in a saucepan over low heat.
5. Add the chopped onion to the heated bowl and sauté it, stirring occasionally. Extinguishing time - 15 minutes.
6. When the onion softens in a saucepan, add garlic to it, which we also sauté on fire for 5 minutes.
7. Pour roast 3 tbsp. l. tomato paste, and sprinkle everything on top with spices. It is desirable that the seasoning be spicy, you can immediately use a mixture of spices, for example, "Berbere". Simmer vegetables with seasoning and pasta for another 1 minute.
8. Pour the vegetables with vegetable broth and bring them to a boil over high heat.
9. As soon as the grains soften, transfer them to a saucepan, cover with a lid and cook for 20-25 minutes.
10. After boiling the lentils until cooked, salt it to taste. After that, mix the finished beans with boiled rice - and serve the side dish to the table.
11. Laying out the dish in portions, decorate it with cilantro or any other herbs.

You can serve a side dish not only with fresh vegetables, but also with fresh or pickled mushrooms, stewed chicken, fish or beef.

Soak

Soak or not

Whether it is necessary to soak lentils before cooking is the most common question among most housewives. There is an opinion that lentils are one of the few types of legumes that do not need to be soaked. This is true, but not a single grain of beans has yet suffered from “bathing” in water.

It is important not to forget that the lentil plates lying in the home bins become dry over time, and therefore they urgently need a fresh sip of water.

How long to soak lentils

Another, no less important, question of interest to housewives is how long should lentils be soaked?

If the ripened grains are several months old, then 8 hours will be enough, but if the lentils lie for six months, or even a year, then the soaking time can be increased to 12-24 hours. The longer the product lies, the more it will soak.

However, it is worth noting that it is not necessary to soak the plates for so long. Sometimes, it is enough to dip the grains in water for just a few minutes, so that they soften a little and take on their original shape.

Table of calories and cooking time for lentils

Not all housewives know well how much to cook brown, red, green and black lentils (another name is beluga lentils). One thing is known for sure, that they have different cooking times and calorie content.

To make cooking simple and bring only pleasure, use the table below, which shows the calories of known types of lentils and the time they take to cook until cooked.

Now you know how to cook lentils of different varieties. All the secrets of its preparation are easily applied in practice. Make a variety of legumes on their own or add lentils as an additional ingredient to a side dish. May your cooking be successful and your lentil treat amazingly delicious.

Bon appetit!

Lentils: cooking secrets + 3 amazing recipes

A good lentil dish will always find a place on the table in summer and winter. This surprisingly satisfying type of legume is almost on a par with meat in protein content, and surpasses many side dishes in taste.
However, like other legumes, grains, and seeds, lentils are a hard-to-digest food that, if not properly cooked, can hamper the digestive tract and cause bloating. Are there ways to avoid such unpleasant consequences?

The answer is: yes, and many intuitively use them all the time. Today - about the secrets of cooking easy-to-digest lentils, as well as 3 delicious lentil recipes for practicing the skill.

How to properly prepare lentils

Unprepared, lentils are literally a digestive challenge. The fact is that absolutely all legumes contain special substances - inhibitors that do not allow grains to germinate without sufficient moisture and literally block our enzymes, thus slowing down digestion. This is exactly what happens every time we boil dry lentils. Of course, with good digestion, such a process can pass without a trace. However, if you got the sensitive organs of the gastrointestinal tract, or if lentils get on your table with enviable regularity, then you should think about the "workarounds" of cooking.

Pre-soaking the lentils in water for several hours, which essentially mimics the entry of grain into moist soil and neutralizes inhibitors, also converts all nutrients into a more bioavailable form. Rinse the grains, fill them with water and leave them in a saucepan under the lid.

According to various sources, it is better to soak lentils for 3-7 hours or even overnight - that is how much is required to neutralize the inhibitors. Also, experts advise soaking lentils in a warm place - this way the process will go even faster. After soaking, drain the water, rinse the lentils and proceed to the selected cooking method.

How to cook lentils: useful tips

1. Pay attention to spices
Choose spices for lentils that have a positive effect on the absorption of legumes: asafoetida, turmeric, coriander, black pepper, fresh and dried ginger.

2. Choose the type of lentil
Different varieties of lentils, according to their characteristics, are better suited for different dishes. For example, green French "marbled" lentils practically do not boil soft, so cooks often use them to add to salads. Orange lentils are the perfect base for a hearty soup, while brown lentils are good as a side dish and as the main ingredient in a main course with meat.

3. Keep track of time
Lentil varieties also differ in cooking time. Boil red for 25-30 minutes, brown will be ready in 20-25 minutes, but for elastic green it will take all 40 minutes. It is important to note that it is not recommended to boil lentils in salted water, as this only increases the cooking time - just salt them at the end.

Red lentil and carrot soup

Light, nutritious and quick to prepare, soup is an excellent dietary lunch option for all occasions.

Ingredients:

● Cumin 2 tsp.
● Pinch of red pepper flakes
● Olive oil 2 tbsp. l.
● Grated carrots 600 g
● Red lentils 140 g
● Vegetable broth 1 l
● Milk 125 ml

Cooking method:

1. Soak lentils overnight. Drain the water and rinse it.
2. Heat the cumin and pepper flakes in a dry skillet until fragrant.

3. Transfer half of the spices from the pan to a plate, and add oil to the remaining ones and add carrots, lentils, broth and milk. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes until soft.
4. Run the soup in a blender until smooth or more textured.
5. Serve hot with Indian flatbread, garnishing the soup with the remaining spices.

2. Salad with green lentils and red onions

A bright vitamin salad that can decorate even a festive table. To prepare this dish, we advise you to take a dense variety of green "De Puy" lentils, which will retain their shape when cooked.

Ingredients:

● Green lentils "De Puy" 250 g
● Juice of half a lemon
● Juice of half a lime
● White wine or apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp. l.
● Red onion 1 pc.
● Olive oil 2 tbsp. l.
Ground cumin 1 tsp
● Garlic 1 clove
● Mango sauce or dressing to taste 2 tbsp. l.
● Cilantro - a handful
● Cherry tomatoes 250 g
● Spinach 85 g

Cooking method:

1. Soak the lentils overnight and boil according to package instructions.
2. Mix citrus juice, vinegar or wine with a pinch of salt, then add the diced onion and marinate for a few minutes until soft.

3. In a separate bowl, combine oil, cumin, mashed garlic and your choice of dressing.
4. Add onion rings and combine with remaining ingredients.
5. Serve garnished with fresh cilantro.

Soup with sweet potato and lentils

A surprisingly warming, flavorful soup - just right for a rainy or chilly day. If there is no sweet potato, you can replace it with pumpkin or turnip.

For a 3 liter pot:

● 2.5 liters of broth with meat (I have beef)
● 1 medium sweet potato
● 1 medium onion
● 1 carrot
● 100 g lentils
● 1 tsp. tomato paste
● paprika, curry, cumin, salt, pepper
● greenery

Cooking method:

1. Peel the vegetables, cut the sweet potato into cubes, finely chop the onion, grate the carrots.
2. Put vegetables and lentils into the boiling broth, add tomato paste and spices and cook until the lentils are ready.
3. If desired, you can pre-fry onions and carrots with spices.
4. 10 minutes before readiness, salt and add paprika.
5. Serve with fresh herbs and sour cream.

Lentils are an ideal product for pregnant women and not only

Lentils have been known since ancient times as a highly nutritious food, high in protein, fiber, iron and folic acid (vitamin B9), making them ideal for pregnant women.
Thanks to folic acid and vitamin B, it can prevent the development of congenital malformations in the fetus, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. A high protein food, like lentils, is very important for pregnant women, as protein is involved in the development of fetal muscle mass.

In addition, folic acid can help combat the negative effects of certain medications. So, for example, a smoker or alcoholic can use lentils to restore their levels of folic acid, which is excreted from the body due to these bad habits.

Lentils are also rich in potassium, fiber, phosphorus, vitamin B5 and vitamin B6. Thanks to its high concentration of potassium, it promotes good blood circulation and regulates blood pressure. Eating lentils helps to cope with problems in the gastrointestinal tract due to the content of coarse fibers, which lowers cholesterol and helps control obesity.

As a phosphorus-rich food, lentils keep bones, teeth and skin in good condition and help restore their natural pH balance. Lentils are recommended for improving the biological functions of the brain.
In addition, vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, makes lentils an indispensable tool in the fight against stress and headaches, and vitamin B6 in its composition is recommended for diabetes, depression and asthma.


Thus, we can say that lentils are an indispensable product in the diet of any person. In addition to all of the above, lentils are a vegetable rich in iron, which helps fight anemia. In order to maximize the content of this mineral, you can add to the diet and citrus fruits - lemons, oranges and tangerines.

You can add lentils as a side dish to other dishes, you can use it in a salad, in combination with lemon juice. However, do not cook lentils for a long time, as they will lose their appearance, taste and many of their beneficial properties. The greatest amount of vitamins and minerals will be preserved if the lentils are sprouted, for this it must be washed, poured with clean water for 6-8 hours, after which the water is drained, the lentils are rinsed and left in a warm, dark place for another 8 hours.

Finally, I will say that lentils contain the following nutrients in their composition:
70 mg calcium, 1.50 mg iodine, 3.10 mg zinc, 40.60 g carbohydrates, 24 mg sodium, 10 mg vitamin A, 0.47 mg vitamin B1, 0.22 mg vitamin B2, 6.58 mg vitamin B3, 3.40 mg vitamin C, 1.80 mg vitamin E, 304 calories, fats 1.70 g, sugars 1.10 g, and purine 127 mg.

Lentils are a food product known since ancient times. She began her victorious march around the world from Southeast Asia. In ancient Egypt, Babylon and Greece, this cereal was highly respected. green in Rus' began to cook in the 14th century. They instantly gained great popularity among the Slavic peoples. Today, this product is undeservedly forgotten. What dishes can be made from green lentils? Recipes: simple and delicious.

Useful properties of the product

Green lentils are not fully ripened fruits of the plant, therefore, during heat treatment, they perfectly retain their shape. They are usually used for preparing snacks and salads, added to meat greens, it is useful to eat to relieve the symptoms of diseases such as hypertension, rheumatism, cholecystitis, pyelonephritis, ulcers, and hepatitis. When cooked, the fruits of this plant fully retain all their beneficial properties. One hundred grams of lentils contains:

• - 25 grams;
• water - 14 grams;
• carbohydrates - 54 grams;
• fat - 1 gram.

Thus, this grain crop is an inexhaustible source of healthy protein, perfectly accepted by the human body. In addition, it has a lot of natural sugar, starch, omega-6 and omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, soluble fiber, folic acid, beneficial trace elements and minerals. Below you will find a detailed story on how to cook a variety of green lentil dishes.

Garnish. Ingredients

This wonderful dish has an original taste and goes with everything. It should be present in the daily menu of every person, because green lentil dishes contain all the substances necessary for the body.

Garnish Ingredients:

• onion - 1 piece;
• butter - 50 grams;
• green lentils - 1 cup;
• bay leaf - 1 piece;
• salt - to taste.

Preparation of a side dish

First of all, you need to pour the fruits of lentils with cold water in a ratio of 1:5.

1. Now you need to peel, chop and lightly fry the onions.
2. After that, bring the lentils to a boil and add oil, salt and bay leaf to it.
3. Next, the garnish must be cooked over very low heat. Cooking time - 35 minutes.

The finished dish must be flavored with butter. If it is planned to serve it with sausages, then raw meat products can be thrown into the side dish three minutes before full readiness.

Lentil soup. Ingredients

Green lentil dishes can be very different. Even a novice hostess can easily master the recipes. Appetizing and rich soup is obtained with the addition of lentils.

Ingredients:

• potatoes - 2 tubers;
• beef - 250 grams;
• tomato paste - 1 tablespoon;
• lentils - 120 grams;
• carrots - 1 piece;
• onion - 1 piece;
• vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons;
• paprika, salt, black pepper - to taste;
• coriander - a third of a teaspoon.

Soup preparation method

1. First of all, the beef must be cut into small pieces and fried in vegetable oil. At the same time, it must be salted and seasoned with spices.
2. Now you should wash, peel, chop the carrots and onions. Vegetables should be added to the fried meat and simmered over moderate heat for fifteen minutes. If the mixture is too dry, you can add a little water to it.
3. After that, it is necessary to wash and pour lentils with cold water. Then it must be put on fire. After ten minutes, add potatoes cut into small pieces into the cereal.
4. Then the tomato paste must be diluted with water and poured into a pan with meat and onions. The roast must be kept on fire for another five minutes.
5. Next, meat and onions should be combined with potatoes and lentils. Products must be cooked for another ten minutes.

The soup is ready! It should be served at the table, sprinkled with finely chopped greens.

Lentils with chicken

Ancient healers believed that green lentil dishes give a person energy and health. Therefore, people from time immemorial have been eating this product with pleasure. Consider chicken.

Ingredients:

• chicken fillet - 500 grams;
• carrots - 1 piece;
• onions (preferably red) - 3 pieces;
• green lentils - 400 grams;
• garlic - 3 cloves;
• vegetable oil - 1 tablespoon;
• spices: coriander, red and black pepper, bay leaf - to taste;
• salt - to taste.

Cooking method

1. First you need to chop the vegetables: onions, carrots and garlic should be cut into small pieces.
2. Then you need to cut the chicken fillet.
3. After that, the lentils should be poured into a saucepan, rinsed and poured with cold water.
4. Now you need to put the container with the cereal on the fire, let it boil, remove the resulting foam, reduce the heat. Cooking time for lentils is thirty minutes. Ten minutes before readiness, add a bay leaf and salt to it.
5. Next, drain the remaining water from the cereal.
6. Then you need to lightly fry the garlic in sunflower oil. After that, pieces of chicken meat should be added to it. It needs to be browned on all sides until crispy.
7. After that, the chicken fillet must be combined with carrots and onions. All ingredients should be mixed thoroughly.
8. Now the resulting mass must be salted and seasoned with coriander and pepper. It must be fried for about ten more minutes until the vegetables are soft.
9. Then add the lentils to the pan. It must be mixed with meat and vegetables and heated over very low heat for about one minute.

Chicken lentils are ready! It is served hot along with fresh vegetables.

Lentils with vegetables

Dishes from green lentils with vegetables are very satisfying and nutritious. The recipe below has its own twist. This is a special combination of spices that gives the dish a piquant spiciness.

Ingredients:

• zucchini - 250 grams;
• green lentils - 2 cups;
• onions - 1 piece (50 grams);
• tomatoes - 2 pieces;
• vegetable oil - 2-3 tablespoons;
• hot water - 3 cups.

Seasonings:

• dry parsley - 1 tablespoon;
• corn flour - 1 tablespoon with a slide;
• savory - 1 teaspoon;
• paprika - one tablespoon with a slide;
• garlic - 1-2 cloves;
• red pepper (hot) - one pinch;
• salt - to taste.

Cooking lentils with vegetables

Soak the lentil seeds in warm water for about half an hour.

Now you need to chop the tomatoes and lightly fry the onions in sunflower oil. After a couple of minutes, you need to add the rest of the vegetables to it. After that, all the ingredients must be thoroughly mixed and fried over medium heat for another five to seven minutes.

Add lentils to bowl with vegetables. Then you need to pour water and add the necessary seasonings. Now the products should be covered with a lid and simmer over moderate heat for fifteen minutes.

The dish is ready! If desired, you can not add flour to it, then it will turn out to be less high-calorie.

Cooking in a multicooker

Nowadays, not only the stove, but also other household appliances are used to create culinary masterpieces. Remarkably dishes from green lentils in a slow cooker are obtained. In order to prepare a hearty side dish, it is enough to fry onions and carrots in the device, then add a couple of glasses of washed lentils to the vegetables and pour all the ingredients with four glasses of water. Cooking time - 40 minutes in the "Porridge" mode. After that, the dish can be served at the table.

Bon appetit!

Just 100 years ago in Russia, lentils were not only found everywhere on the tables of both the rich and the poor, but were also exported to many countries of the world. However, not everyone knew how to boil lentils to make a delicious dish.

The oldest agricultural crop of the legume family has been known since the Neolithic, appeared in Rus' in the 14th century and was the basis for many dishes. Now they forgot about the queen of legumes, but in vain!

The nutritional value of lentils is enormous, it contains more than sixty percent of vegetable protein and a wide range of minerals and trace elements. It was not for nothing that among the monks in Rus' it was the main source of nutrition during fasting; many dishes can be prepared from it: soups, pastries, side dishes.

From a medical point of view, the queen of beans is simply a storehouse of health. It strengthens the immune system and improves metabolism. Regular use will not only improve the body, but also cure many ailments.

1. It normalizes blood sugar levels, which means it is useful for diabetics.
2. It is rich in B vitamins, which act as an antioxidant and protect the body from the effects of toxins, alcohol and nicotine poisoning.
3. With gastritis and ulcers, pain subsides, heartburn disappears.
4. Prevention of oncology - prevents the formation of cancer cells.
5. Useful for nervous disorders, a kind of depressant.

The list is endless. Moreover, lentils also have cosmetic properties, are indispensable for diets, and are also very useful for women's health during pregnancy, when solving gynecological problems.

So colorful!

Several varieties of lentils are known.

1. Brown. The most common type, rich in iron, prevents anemia. Soups are mainly prepared from it. Has a nutty flavor, good in combination with meat.
2. Red, or Egyptian. Practically devoid of a shell, so it instantly boils soft. It is recommended to cook mashed potatoes, pastes, soups from it.
3. Puy, or green. Rich in fiber, the variety was bred in the French city of Puy. It has a delicate aroma and smell of pepper. It is not subject to boiling and is recommended for adding to salads.
4. Yellow. Polished green lentils. It is used for puree-like dishes.
5. Black, or Beluga. It has a small size, looks like black caviar. It contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, which means it helps with colds. Often used for salads, useful in sprouted form. After cooking, it retains its shape, due to the unusual color it gives piquancy and originality to dishes.

Place the prepared cereal in boiling water and cook over low heat, not forgetting to stir. Salt or add tomatoes should be at the end 5-10 minutes before readiness, as a salty or acidified environment doubles the cooking time.

During the cooking process, it is advisable to add spices and a little oil, olive oil is best. This will make the beans tender and softer, as well as more fragrant.

How long will it take

Each variety has a different cooking time. Of course, you can constantly try for softness and taste, but it is better to remember or write down how much to cook lentils until cooked, depending on the color.

Red and yellow are cooked very quickly, an average of 15 minutes. Brown and black will be ready in 25 minutes. And cooking green takes from 45 minutes to an hour.

You can cook not only on the stove, so it is important to know how much lentils are cooked depending on the cooking method:

• multicooker - 50 min.;
• microwave oven - 7-12 minutes;
• steamer - 1 hour.

How much water do you need

For side dishes for one part of the cereal, you need to take two parts of water. Try to maintain a strict 1:2 ratio to avoid undercooked or overcooked lentils.

If you use a microwave oven or a double boiler, then it is enough that the water is 1-2 cm above the level of the grain.

It has long and firmly entered our lives, it allows you to quickly prepare dishes in automatic mode. However, not every housewife knows how to cook lentils.

Use the "Extinguishing", "Porridge" modes. If the dish consists of several ingredients, then the legumes should be laid last.

Lentils with mushrooms are prepared as follows.

1. We turn on the “Frying” mode, pour sunflower oil into the container, add finely chopped onion and a couple of cloves of garlic, bring to a transparent state.
2. A dozen randomly chopped champignons or other mushrooms are fried together with onions for several minutes. Salt, seasonings and spices to taste.
3. Add one glass of prepared lentils to the mushrooms and pour two glasses of boiling water.
4. We switch to the "Extinguishing" mode, set the time to 50 minutes.
5. After the readiness signal, it is advisable to leave it on automatic heating for another 20 minutes.

Thus, you can cook lentils with meat, chicken, vegetables. Be sure to use spices, they brighter reveal the taste and aroma.

Features of cooking in the microwave

Many housewives do not know that in a microwave oven you can not only defrost food or heat food, but also cook.

Pour red or yellow lentils into a special dish, salt, add spices and pour hot water so that it covers the beans by 1.5-2 cm. Place in the microwave, no need to close the lid. Set the maximum mode and cook for 7-10 minutes. Lentils are crumbly, the grains are whole and elastic.

Cooking in a steamer

When cooking in a double boiler, useful vitamins and minerals are preserved, dishes are guaranteed not to burn, and cereals are crumbly. The peculiarity of cooking is less water than with the usual method of cooking in a saucepan.

Put one and a half cups of any lentils in a container, pour in a glass of water, put butter, spices and salt to taste. Set the time to 1 hour. After cooking, taste it, you can add a few more minutes to achieve the necessary softness.

How to cook lentils so that it is healthy and tasty? There are many recipes, add imagination, do not be afraid to experiment, and you can please your loved ones with unusual dishes.

Porridge

It is equally good as an independent dish, and as a side dish for meat or fish.

1. Pour well-washed yellow or red grains into boiling water in a ratio of one to two.
2. Cook until done. For 5-7 minutes, do not forget to salt and add spices and seasonings.
3. Drain excess water and leave to simmer covered.
4. Fry onions and carrots in vegetable oil until golden brown.
5. Mix the roast with lentils, add butter to taste.

Before serving, sprinkle the porridge with finely chopped herbs.

Puree

Throw the lentils into boiling water in a ratio of 1:2. Cook for about 15 minutes with the addition of a tablespoon of vegetable oil, so the beans will be softer and more tender. At the end, add salt and spices. To make the puree smooth, beat or pass through a sieve.

Serve puree with fresh vegetables and herbs. A mint leaf in a plate will add a special taste.

Soup

How to cook brown lentils? What to cook? Try Lentil Soup, a hearty dish rich in protein and micronutrients. In the cold season, it saturates, warms, gives piquancy and a touch of exotic.

This is the classic soup recipe.

1. Boil one cup of lentils in two cups of water for 20 minutes.
2. Finely chop the carrots and onions and fry in vegetable oil.
3. Combine vegetables with lentils, add a pinch of turmeric, cumin, red and black pepper. Salt.
4. Simmer over low heat until the lentils are soft.
5. Use a blender to smooth and smooth.
6. Add six cups of strong beef or vegetable broth.
7. Season with butter, sprinkle with chopped herbs and ground paprika.

Exotic green and black lentils

Black lentils are also called Beluga. The grains are shiny, rich in color, very similar to black caviar, hence the nickname. This is a rather expensive product, as it is characterized by labor-intensive harvesting.

Sprouted black lentils are very useful, they are added to salads. When boiled, it has a whole shape and a pleasant delicate taste. Beluga looks exotic on sandwiches. In Europe, delicious soups and gourmet sauces are prepared from it, and in Asian countries they are mixed with rice or added to vegetable stews.

Green lentils were bred in France, in the small town of Puy, which is why they are sometimes called French or by the name of the city. It has a subtle, spicy swing and unusual flavors. Many gourmets consider this variety to be the most delicious variety in existence. Perfectly retains its shape during cooking and is recommended for preparing gourmet dishes. It is best to add it to salads.

The Puy variety is not always available, so its counterpart is slightly unripe lentils. It is brown-green in color and does not boil soft. It is easy to distinguish it from Puy, French lentils have a marble pattern on the grains.

1. Lentil grains should be uniform in shape and color. If there are small holes on its surface, it means that insects have liked it and are no longer suitable for food.
2. Do not mix beans purchased at different times, even if they are the same variety. Older lentils will take longer to cook.
3. For vegetable soup, lentils are thrown first and cooked until half cooked, and then the rest of the products are added.
4. If you are making lentil soup with meat stock, cook the meat first and then add the beans.
5. To make the porridge crumbly, boil it, drain off excess water and leave to swell under the lid.
6. Bay leaves, sage, rosemary, cloves are perfectly combined with lentils, and from vegetables - onions, carrots, tomatoes, garlic.
7. Spices are best added early, the taste will be more pronounced.
8. Cooked lentils can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
9. To avoid flatulence, add cloves.

Summing up

Now you know how useful and nutritious lentils are. Do not neglect it, and your diet will be replenished with delicious dishes.

Lentils are a dietary product, have a low calorie content and are indispensable for a slim figure. From it you can cook not only soups and cereals, but also bread, salads, pastries, meatballs and even sweets.

This amazing plant is not able to accumulate toxins and does not lose its healing properties even after heat treatment. No wonder lentils are called the queen of beans.

Eat it with pleasure and be healthy!

Even in the most "dense" times, people were well aware of how to cook lentils and why it should definitely be included in your diet. Today we are looking for organic food, however, we unforgivably ignore the “modest” packages with a natural product, chasing bright packaging and fashion trends. See how you can make simple, delicious, healthy legume meals!

How to cook lentils for a side dish

There is nothing complicated in the technology of preparing an excellent side dish for the main dish. You just need to take into account certain rules and useful recommendations.

Features of preparing a side dish of lentils:

• The shell of brown, yellow or black beans is more dense, so such grains must be pre-soaked. Red lentils practically do not need such a procedure.
• Leaving the grains to swell, do not add any spices and seasonings. We add these components only during the heat treatment of the product, and even then in limited quantities.
• We boil the grain in the following terms: cook green or brown for 40 minutes; brown - 30; red (orange) - from 15 to 20 minutes.

To get a delicious side dish you will need:

• onion - 2 pcs.;
• crushed nuts - 60 g;
• lentil grain - 150 g;
• fresh mustard - 15 g;
• garlic cloves - 2 pcs.;
• vinegar (wine or apple) - 20 ml;
• salt, herbs, onion feather, parsley, pepper.

Cooking process:

1. We leave the lentils overnight in the purified liquid. In the morning, thoroughly wash the grains, place in a saucepan, pour in 300 ml of drinking water. Add lavrushka, onion, clove bud and boil the composition. Then cook for 35 minutes on low heat.
2. Finely chop the second onion, chop the parsley and onion feather. We combine vinegar, mustard, chopped garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl.
3. We extract the components added for taste from the boiled lentils, combine the legumes with the prepared sauce, crushed nuts and onion composition. Gently mix food.

Now that we know how to make lentils for a side dish, let's move on to another easy and delicious bean meal.

Hearty porridge with vegetables

A feature of the inclusion of cereals in food is their wonderful nutty flavor. The aroma of lentils delicately emphasizes the taste of meat or vegetable dishes, fresh salad.

Composition of ingredients:

• butter - 30 g;
• onion and carrot;
• lentil grain - 200 g;
• bay leaf, salt, pepper.

Cooking method:

1. So, we wash the beans well, pour 200 ml of purified water. The ratio of lentils and liquid must be strictly defined - 1: 2, otherwise we risk not cooking the porridge or getting a substance in the form of mashed potatoes.
2. Add a bay leaf or a clove of garlic, which will give the food a more fragrant and piquant shade. Cook lentils for 25 minutes over low heat, but for now we are preparing a delicious dressing. Season food with salt only at the end of cooking.
3. We clean all the vegetables, chop the onion into cubes, cut the carrots into strips, fry the food in oil until golden brown. We drain the excess liquid from the prepared beans, put the vegetable composition on them, season it with salt, and gently mix the food.

Hearty lentil porridge is an excellent independent meal, which, if necessary, we use as a side dish.

Delicious first course

Turkish bulgur, lentil chorba, stews and mashed soups, vegetarian and lean dishes - the eyes run wide from this abundance of first courses. And each of them will be the most delicious, fragrant and healthy!

Grocery list:

• vegetable oil;
• potatoes - 6 pcs.;
• smoked pork ribs - 500 g;
• lentil beans - 200 g;
• salt, herbs;
• sweet carrot, onion.

Cooking order:

1. We wash the pork on the bones well, put it in a saucepan, fill it with filtered water, boil until ready. We take out the ribs, separate the tasty meat, cut it into portions.
2. We clean and rinse the vegetables, chop the onion in half rings, finely rub the carrots. Fry food in fragrant oil.
3. We spread the chopped potato sticks into the broth, add pre-soaked and washed lentils. Boil the products almost until cooked, then season with salt, add the vegetable composition and bay leaf. After 5 minutes of heating, turn off the fire.

We serve fragrant lentil soup in a hot state, “green” the plates with food with chopped leaves of fragrant plants.

Lentil cutlets

A simple and tasty recipe for mouth-watering products will allow you to get a meal that is very reminiscent of a meat dish.

List of components:

• garlic cloves - 2 pcs.;
• egg;
• vegetable oil;
• bulb onions;
• green lentils - a glass;
• oat flakes - 40 g;
• breadcrumbs - 150 g;
• a pinch of salt, pepper;
• coriander, zira - 1 tsp each.

Cooking process:

1. To obtain a tasty and high-quality dish, we must sort out the lentils, remove all foreign inclusions. Wash the beans well and soak for half an hour. We place the swollen product in 2 liters of boiling drinking water, cook for 30 minutes until ready.
2. Season the hot grains with spices and salt, then grind with a blender. Add crushed garlic, chopped onion, oatmeal flakes, egg. Mix thoroughly with your hands.
3. We heat the pan with vegetable oil, select a portion of the cooked minced meat with a spoon, bread with breadcrumbs. We spread the product in hot fat, lightly press down, creating a round or oblong shape. Add a few more lentil cutlets, quickly fry on all sides until a beautiful ruddy.

Serve hot with homemade sour cream or sauce.

Diet salad with lentils

The presented dish well stimulates the metabolic processes occurring in the body. And this means that our waist will be thin, and the body will be beautiful and attractive.

Product set:

• vegetable oil;
• Feta cheese - 250 g;
• fresh pumpkin - 350 g;
• pre-boiled lentils - 250 g;
• spices, Provence herbs (1.5 tsp).

Cooking features:

1. We cut off a rough crust from the pumpkin, wash it well, dry it with napkins, remove the seeds and fibers with a spoon. We cut the vegetable into small cubes, which we immediately fry in vegetable oil along with Provence herbs.
2. We spread the pre-boiled beans in serving dishes, add pieces of pumpkin, add the desired spices. Gently stir the food, then pour fresh oil.

It remains to put crumbled feta cheese on a diet salad with lentils and enjoy a serving of tasty and healthy food.

Tomato soup with beans

For lovers of first courses with the addition of tomatoes, we have prepared a recipe for a luxurious soup with a valuable grain crop. Strengthen the immune system, restore peace of mind!

Required components:

• ready-made meat broth - up to 2 l;
• tomato, carrot, potato - 1 pc.;
• lentils - 200 g;
• a pinch of salt;
• peppercorns;
• Lavrushka - 3 pcs.

Cooking technology:

1. Pour the meat broth into the pan, after the start of the boil, lower the pre-treated lentils into it. If we have green beans at our disposal, we send them first to the soup. We throw bay leaves, a few peppercorns and boil the food for up to 25 minutes.
2. Next, lay out the potatoes, cut into cubes, and chopped carrots. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes, until the pieces of root vegetables are soft.
3. Now it's the turn of the tomato. We put tomato slices in the soup, add chopped greens, season the food with pepper and salt. After 7 minutes of additional heating, turn off the fire.

We serve the first dish hot. Bulbs - 2 pcs.

Cooking method:

1. We wash the beans well, place them in a spacious dish, pour filtered water (400 ml) and heat to a boil. Remove the foam, reduce the fire to a minimum. Cook the lentils for 40 minutes, then put them in a colander to drain all the excess moisture.
2. We cook the mushrooms for a quarter of an hour in boiling salted water, then drain the liquid.
3. We clean and wash vegetables. We pass the garlic cloves through a press, cut the onion into cubes, chop the carrots into strips or rub them coarsely. Saute the cut for 5 minutes, then add the mushrooms.
4. Fry the products to a pleasant golden hue, add the lentils and chopped greens. We mix the ingredients of the dish, heat for another 3 minutes in the closed state, turn off the heat.

We lay out the fragrant food on plates, serve hot to the table.

Lentils with chicken and bell pepper

Poultry meat dishes are the most favorite dishes, however, if we cook lentils along with chicken and vegetables, our feelings will increase many times over.

List of ingredients;

• Sweet pepper;
• garlic cloves - 2 pcs.;
• chicken fillet - 400 g;
• green lentils - 300 g;
• onion turnip - 1 pc.;
• olive oil - 20 ml;
• salt, dry spices.

Cooking steps:

1. Place the washed beans in a bowl, pour in 600 ml of boiling water and boil for 35 minutes by simmering. At the end of the process, season the food with salt.
2. We chop the peeled vegetables in small pieces, finely chop the garlic cloves, fry the sliced ​​\u200b\u200bin vegetable oil, after which we add the chicken fillet divided into small pieces. Sprinkle the products with spices, salt and pepper. We cook the food for another 10 minutes, trying not to overdry the poultry meat.
3. We mix boiled lentils with chicken fillet cooked in vegetables and decorate with chopped herbs.

Serve the dish with tomato paste or sauce, which has a delicate taste and delicate aroma.