Food What to do with lentils?

natalie78

natalie78

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O.G.
May 6, 2008
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14
#1
I got a big package of steamed lentils at the store on a whim. Now I don't know what to do with them. I found a lot of recipes online, but many of them call for spices I don't have (and don't want to buy), or some strange ingredient that I don't care to spend money on.

What are some quick and easy ways to fix lentils with ingredients that are usually hanging around a kitchen?
 
#2
I usually make soup with lentils. I think that if you find a recipe you like online, you can substitute spices/herbs that you have on hand for ones you may not have. I mostly cook creatively without a recipe, but I smell the spices to see if I will like the way they taste together & in whatever dish I'm preparing. now it will definitely taste different than the original recipe & many spices are important to achieve a certain flavor (especially if you're making an ethnic recipe), but you might prefer the taste with your "favorite" spices/herbs that you keep in your pantry.

for example, this lentil soup recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/lentil-soup-recipe/index.html
it calls for coriander, cumin, & grains of paradise (all prevalent in Indian cooking...lentil soup is an Indian dish). I have coriander & cumin in my pantry, but not grains of paradise. I'd just leave out the grains of paradise. I'd add some garlic (because I love garlic), & maybe another spice that smelled like it would work with the coriander & cumin.
 
#4
I love dal. It can be made as a soup, but that commonly takes all the spices you probably don't want to buy (and I don't blame you unless you make it often enough to make it worthwhile). A recipe I usually use is something like this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/wolfgang-puck/dal-recipe/index.html
But there is also a less soupy version of dal that's usually served with rice, like this:
http://www.food.com/recipe/lentil-dal-456

There are also far more westernized versions of lentil soup, too, although I am not as familiar with those and don't have a recipe to offer.
 
#5
Thanks, guys. I was hoping for something besides soup :biggrin:, but it looks like all my searches come back to soups or something soup-like.

I think I will experiment this weekend and see what happens.
 
#6
I soak mine over nigh in water seasoned w Zaterians Creal Seasoning, onion & garlic powder then slow cook them on high for about 8 hrs. Then sautee some smoked or andouille sausage w chopped onions, bell peppers, celery, garlic & parsley then throw my beans in to sautee for abt 30 min and serve over rice.
 
#8
I just used some red lentils I had to make giant stuffed mushroms (a little bit of italian sausage, the lentils, parm. Topped with a little sauce and fresh mozzerella). They were great, like much healthier mini pizza.
 
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