I know this is a basic question but what do I do with lentils? How do I cook them?

[fishnet]

I keep seeing people referring to them as a good meat substitute and have a large container ful in the cupboard but have never cooked them and don't know what I would do with them

any help would be gratefully receievd

[NotQuiteCockney]

Rinse them, then simmer for 30 minutes or so. They cook a lot faster than other legumes.

Our favourite way to eat lentils is:

• fry onion and garlic and (optional) pancetta in a bit of oil
• add a bit of crushed chillis
• add a tin of chopped tomatoes
• add some lentils
• add a bay leaf
• cook for about 30 minutes

[fishnet]

do they swell up? Trying to work out how much to use

[Mercy]

What sort of lentils are they?

(dhals are my favourite way of eating them too)

[OrmIrian]

Boil them. Then you can add them to a dish in a similar way to minced meat. ie in a chilli or cottage pies.

Yes they swell.

[Mercy]

I use about ½ a cup of red lentils to serve 2 people as part of a meal.

I've also used green ones (Puy?) to make burgers, also to make a sausage casserole type meal.

[fishnet]

they're red lentils. would I use about the same amount per person as i'd need for a protion of rice?

[Lanky]

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone have a good dhal recipe? I have dozens of cookery books, but no dhal recipes. Thanks

[Mercy]

I tend to make a smaller portion of dhal compared to the rice (for example I would do some sort of curry or similar, rice and dhal).

But if you are just having rice and dhal then do approximately half and half (especially in view of how expensive Basmati is these days). Serve with a simple salad and some lassi and you have a balanced meal!

Lanky, I'll post my favourite recipe in a while - it's quite similar to NQC's though.