Animal Writings

I may be biased toward lentils because I used to live in the lentil capital of the world. (Do you know where that is?) In any case, they're an excellent source of cheap protein. Their nutrition profile is almost unbeatable. I highly recommend them. They're tasty and filling and go well with all kinds of foods. If you're the type of person who likes your main dishes hearty and wants a nice, full feeling after your meal, definitely take a close look at lentils as a regular staple in your diet.

Lentils are simple to cook:

• Measure out your servings and pour the lentils into a strainer that does not have large holes.


• Rinse off the lentils. I use the "spray" attachement on the sink for this. The lentils will sort of stick together in a large mass, which prevents them from falling through the strainer.


• Pour the lentils into a pot. Add the water according to the package directions. Usually it's about a 1-to-2 ratio of lentils to water.


• Bring the water to a boil. Cover and turn the heat down to low. Check after about 20 minutes. You want the lentils to be soft but not mushy. If you do overcook a little, don't worry; they'll still be delicious.

Some recipes vary this process. For example, you might find a recipe in which you sautee or brown the lentils in oil before adding water or stock and boiling them. It's all good.

Here are a few ways you can enjoy lentils:

• Lentils and rice is an amazingly satisfying dinner considering how ultra-simple it is. It's also one of the cheapest meals in the world to make. Add a little non-dairy margarine and soy sauce and you're good to go. Or you can fancy it up in all kinds of other ways.


• You can't beat lentil soup when the weather turns cold. You can buy it in the can, make it yourself, or order it at many restaurants.


• Indian cuisine shines when it comes to lentils. There is a huge variety of Indian dishes that feature lentils. I urge you to try them if at all possible. If you live in a large metropolitan area, you may have access to Indian restaurants that specialize in dishes from specific regions of India. Sample this diversity for a real taste treat. But whether or not you go to Indian restaurants, just do an online search for Indian lentil recipes and you'll be presented with a plethora of super tasty and healthy options. You may want to add "easy" to your search terms.


• Lentils are an excellent filler for homemade veggie burgers. I'm going to talk about this later on in the series. You don't want to miss this!


• Do an online search of "recipe vegan easy lentils" and you'll have enough satisfying and highly doable recipes for a lifetime. I'm not kidding. Be sure to try out international flavors as well as more down home lentil soup / lentils and rice mainstays. I think you'll really like how lentils fit into your overall meal plan.

To be continued...

Labels: diet, Indian, Indian cuisine, Indian food, legumes, lentils