Lentils - recipes for all occasions

lentil recipes Tasty, healthy, satisfying, fast. It is with these words that one can characterize such a culture as lentils, the recipes of which are known to our grandmothers. In terms of protein content, lentils are almost equal to meat. Therefore, it is not surprising that dishes from it are very nutritious. They are also suitable for those who are fasting. After tasting lentil porridge, you can have a hearty dinner, having received the required amount of protein. But at the same time, do not violate the "meat" ban. Moreover, porridge is far from the only option for making lentils. It can be used for both first and second courses. And also as an independent side dish or component for salads.

Some subtleties of making lentils

There are several varieties of lentils that differ in color and cooking time:

Red is the most common in Russian cuisine. Both soups and cereals are made from it. Cooking takes no more than 25 minutes.
Brown - used in second courses. Prepares for 20 minutes.
Orange - ideal for making rich soups. Ready in 15 - 20 minutes.
Green (aka marble) - not boiled soft, but it takes a long time to cook, up to 40 minutes.
Black - also keeps its shape. It is added to salads, but it takes the longest to cook, up to 50 minutes.

Almost all recipes for making lentils do not include soaking. On the one hand, this procedure is not necessary, because small fruits are quickly prepared without it. However, do not forget that lentils are legumes. This means that it is heavy enough for the stomach, especially if it is weak. Pre-soaking will help to “neutralize” the negative impact, and the food will be easier to digest.

Any spices "go" well with lentils, but it is better to use those that will help the body absorb it. it ginger, coriander, turmeric, black pepper.

There are many options for eating lentils. Green varieties go well with fish, red ones - with smoked meat and liver, black ones - with any meat. And with vegetables you can combine all types of this culture.

Lentils - recipes for first and second courses

Lentils make hearty soups and delicate cereals with an interesting taste, especially if you add spices. They will emphasize the individual flavor notes of the legume culture. They will also help the body absorb it faster and better. For lunch, you can serve boiled soup with orange lentils, and for dinner - porridge or bean cutlets for a side dish. For breakfast, you can make a nutritious salad by adding lentils to it.

Lentil soup

Lean soup is suitable for those who follow the figure or follow a strict fast. There is no meat in it, only vegetables and lentils. But thanks to the latter, the dish is nutritious and high in protein. It can often be found in diet recipes.

Cooking the soup will not take much time:

Rinse with 0.5 tbsp of orange lentils in cold water. Pour 2 liters of water, cook for 15 minutes.
While the beans are cooking, cut 3 potatoes into strips. Fry them in a frying pan in vegetable oil.
In a separate frying pan, stew one onion and one carrot. Simmer with them and 100 g of celery root, cut into strips.
Place the sautéed vegetables in a pot of lentils.
Add 2 finely chopped garlic cloves and 2 tbsp. l. soy sauce.
Cook for 20 minutes, at the end adding half a lemon, cut into wedges.

When serving the soup in bowls, grind it with fresh herbs.

Lentil cutlets

If you still have boiled lentils, do not rush to throw them away, especially since they are far from cheap. Use leftovers for tasty cutlets. Their preparation is a simple and familiar procedure, as for a similar meat dish. It is not necessary to observe the proportions, and spices can be added, focusing on your taste.

How to make cutlets step by step:

Fry the onions and carrots in vegetable oil.
Place them in a bowl of boiled lentils.
Add 1 tbsp. l. mayonnaise, 2 tbsp. l. semolina, a pinch of chopped greens. Salt.
Using a blender, make mashed potatoes from the mass.
Take with a spoon, forming patties. Dip in flour and fry on both sides in sunflower oil until crusty.

For cutlets, it is better to use red lentils. It is advisable to pre-soak the beans overnight, cook for 20 minutes.

Lentil salad with vegetables and cheese

Just one small portion of this salad will allow you to forget about hunger at least until lunch. It is very satisfying, but juicy thanks to the fresh tomatoes. And the original dressing gives the salad an amazing aroma.

For the salad, the first step is to boil the lentils until cooked. Enough and 100 g of raw beans. It is better to use a variety with green fruits - they do not lose their shape and remain intact. Ready lentils should cool down, because the dish will be "cold".

In addition, you will first need to make a fragrant dressing. For the ingredients included in it to reveal their aroma and taste, the dressing must stand for at least 15 minutes.

For salad dressing you need:

grind a little hot red pepper (to taste, who does not like its pungency, you can skip this item);
finely chop 3-4 leaves of fresh basilica;
pass 1-2 cloves of garlic through the garlic;
mix all the ingredients, pour 2 tbsp. l. olive oil.

The dressing can be used for more than just lentil salad. It is suitable for many summer salads with vegetables. It will also add a spicy touch and additional juiciness to dishes with the addition of meat.

While the dressing is infusing, cut 10 cherry tomato and 2 green onions. Hard cheese in the amount of 50 g "cut" in thin layers on a peeler. It remains to add the lentils, dressing and mix well, salt to taste.

How to cook lentils in a slow cooker

Most legumes cook quickly. But if the kitchen has a multicooker, it will take even less time. Most importantly, there is no need to look in and check. After choosing the desired program and laying the prepared products, after a while a delicious dinner will be ready.

The modes "Porridge", "Rice", "Buckwheat" are suitable for cooking lentils. It can also be done in the "Extinguishing" mode by setting the timer for 30 - 40 minutes.

To make a hearty lentil porridge, you must:

Sort out and rinse well with 200 g lentils. You can take an orange one, then the porridge will be more boiled. Or green for whole beans. By the way, they can then be added to the salad.
Pour lentils into a bowl, pour 0.5 l of water.
Add a little olive oil for flavor (10 tbsp is enough).
Activate the "Porridge" or "Extinguishing" mode.
After the signal from the multicooker about the end of cooking, salt and stir the porridge.

Now you are familiar with lentils, unique in their properties, recipes from which are not presented all. There are still a lot of them, and each housewife can choose a dish to her taste. Moreover, lentils will not add extra pounds to the figure, but at the same time provide the body with vitamins and minerals.

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