Lentils for vegetarian cottage pie

[FL59]

The recipe I found says to use tinned Puy lentils but I haven't been able to find any anywhere. What can I use as an alternative?

[TheBoots]

Green or brown lentils I think might work

[ifeellikeanidiot]

Green lentils are best IMO

[FL59]

Do you use dry green lentils or tinned? If dry, how long do they need to be cooked for ?

[cdtaylornats]

Puy lentils are just green lentils from Puy in France.

[Lordfrontpaw]

Even those orange ones are ok. They do mush down to nothing though.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I usually use tinned green, but that's because Im lazy!
If you buy them dried they'll need to be soaked and cooked, I cant remember the exact timings but it should be on the pack, or a quick google with bring it up.

[Ginfordinner]

I buy the Merchant Gourmet ones in sachets. They are available in all the major supermarkets.

[ArriettyJones]

Get dried Puy lentils and soak them first, or any dark lentils. Ideally black/brown, but green nearly as good and orange if desperate.

The point of the darker varieties, especially puy, is that they are firmer and nuttier.

[tawnygrisettes]

You don't need to soak dried lentils, just boil/simmer for about 30 mins from dried. It usually tells you this on the packet :-)

I personally love green ones because they have a bit of bite and retain their shape and texture better, but honestly any will do.

[FredaFrogspawn]

The dry ones are cheaper at Asian or African food shops. And good for nutrient-rich sprouting too.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I don't think the orange ones work at all in a veggie shepherd's pie, they are far too soft.
I use them for soups and dahl.
The green or brown ones hold up and have a much better texture for this.