How to cook lentils

The content of the article

• How long is lentil cooking?
• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Brown
• How to cook lentils correctly and tasty
• Like a side dish with vegetables
• Lentil soup in meat broth
• Cooking recipe with chicken in a slow cooker

Lentils are a very healthy protein-rich food. Some species of this plant contain up to 26% of proteins, which makes them important participants in the diet. This product began to be used in ancient times, as evidenced by archaeological excavations conducted in famous places on our planet. Nowadays, there are no limits to the use of this incredibly tasty bean, in addition, there are many of its varieties and species. Useful recipes will help you learn how to cook lentils correctly. Below are many interesting facts about this product..

How long is lentil cooking?

There is a huge variety of varieties of lentils, they are all prepared in different ways. The type of plant also determines how long the beans will be cooked. A common variety of the described product is called brown lentils, and the red variety is also called Egyptian, and it cooks faster than everyone else. Finally, green lentils are called French and are unripe beans, most of which are used in salads.

Red

It usually takes about 25 minutes to cook red lentil beans. Although it also depends on how to cook lentils. It is known that in a slow cooker the red variety of these legumes will cook a little faster, while in the microwave oven this process will take a greater amount of time. It’s best to cook thick soups, mashed potatoes, vegetable stews.

Green

The green variety is boiled for the longest. Usually, in order for this variety of beans to be completely cooked, it takes about 40 minutes. But it is the most resistant to boiling. There are a lot of vitamins and substances useful for the human body. Most Russian housewives know how to cook lentils, and then mix with fried onions and carrots to get the desired result. At the end of the dish, it is recommended to season with dried basil and curry.

Yellow

Yellow lentils cook very quickly. 15 minutes is enough to cook a delicious soup, a main course or something else. This type of bean easily turns into a puree, as it quickly swells in water, they also call it Turkish. World-famous popularity is fixed on a dish with mushrooms and tomatoes, which is so loved in Turkey, because yellow lentils are the main ingredient of such a dish.

Brown

Prepares faster than anyone – up to 20 minutes. However, it has the property to digest, so tasty porridge comes out of it. There are many photos and videos with detailed instructions for preparing such dishes. This variety, which is also called continental, gives a light nutty flavor when cooked. It is recommended that you add this type of bean to your stew, salads, and casseroles..

How to cook lentils correctly and tasty

To prepare this product correctly, you must follow these tips:

• Before starting cooking, thoroughly rinse the product. It is important that all debris is completely removed..
• It is necessary to salt the dish immediately before the end of cooking, since if the water is salted initially, the time for cooking beans will increase significantly.
• Typically, the preparation of lentils requires the following proportion: 1 cup of product in 1.5-2.5 water.
• It is better to opt for a red plant variety. This species holds its shape best. This is especially useful if you want to cook not ordinary porridge, but a dish in which legumes will be added later.

Like a side dish with vegetables

Using lentils as a side dish is a good option, since it has all the qualities that are characteristic of a side dish. It is especially good to use it as a side dish with vegetables (even something comes out as an independent dish). Usually vegetables do not contain a large amount of protein, and in these beans there is a lot of it, so they even replace meat.

To prepare a side dish with vegetables you will need:

• Lentils (1 tbsp)
• Onion (1 pc.)
• Carrots (1-2 pcs.)
• Bell pepper (2 pcs.)
• White mushroom (500 g)
• Tomato (a little)
• Spices (taste)
• Water (2 tbsp.)

Learn how to cook lentils, below. The preparation of the dish itself is accompanied by such basic actions:

• The first step is soaking. It is advisable to leave the beans in this condition all night so that all harmful substances come out of them. Usually, the water in which the lentils have been soaked acquires a brownish tint.
• The second step involves cooking the lentils until cooked. Then drain the water. If intense boiling is observed during cooking, you can reduce it by adding a certain amount of cold water.
• The third stage. Separately, fry onions, carrots, peppers, mushrooms until cooked. After that, tomatoes and spices are added to the vegetables as desired. The sauce is ready.
• The fourth stage. Pour the sauce into a pot (preferably clay), add beans and a little water to it. Stew for a few minutes to let the lentils soak in the taste of vegetables.

Lentil soup in meat broth

Take a pan of 2-2.5 liters. Actually, to prepare this incredibly delicious dish, you need the following ingredients:

• Meat broth (it is favorable to use beef, chicken, pork) – 2 l
• Red lentils – 0.5 cups
• Onion – 1 head
• Bell pepper – 1 pc..
• Carrots – 2 pcs..
• Rice
• Bay leaf (ground)
• Salt
• Butter

This soup guarantees quick weight loss. French soup from this plant involves the use of all the same ingredients, but only celery and tomatoes are still added to them. Cooking soup occurs in the following sequence:

• Cooking broth. For this you need lean pork / beef or chicken. Tastier if you cook all three types of meat together. So get a broth with an unusual taste.
• Cut vegetables into small cubes. Send to a preheated pan pre-oiled with a small amount of vegetable oil.
• Add broth and main product. Cook for about 10 minutes.
• Add rice.
• When both lentils and rice are fully cooked, you need to add all the necessary spices, salt and bay leaves. Lentils are checked for taste.

In addition to meat, the basis for such a tasty as well as diet soup can be fish, or rather beluga. Its high cost is relative, because for a dish for the whole family you will need a piece weighing 300-400 grams. The cooking process is no different, except that the fish is cooked faster than meat.

Cooking recipe with chicken in a slow cooker

To prepare this dish you need:

• Chicken fillet (600 g)
• Lentils (1 tbsp)
• Tomatoes (1 pc.)
• Onion (1 pc.)
• Bell pepper (1 pc.)
• Salt, spices
• Water (1 tbsp)

Cooking:

• Rinse the beans until the water remains clear. Meat also washed.
• Cut all the vegetables into thin strips.
• Pour oil into the multicooker bowl and add all the ingredients. Mix. Top with water and close the lid. Set the soup cooking program. Choose a time of 80 minutes. Cook before the end of the program.

Learning to cook quickly various dishes will succeed if you study visual aids. For example, to learn how to cook a delicious stew of lentils and mushrooms, you can watch the video: