On economy drive, have lentils, cous cous, pearl barley, inspire me please

[walkinthewoods]

Just that really. I do lentil soup and lentil dhal and that's about it. Have never tried cous cous before but like the look of JO's cous cous with oinions and courgettes.

[Wigeon]

Red lentils in smooth tomato soup is yuuuum. Have a great Cranks recipe for it if you like the sound of it - let me know.

I also practically live on couscous:

• chop up practically any veg / salad ingredient you can eat raw and add a salad dressing, have it hot or cold. Can add any nuts / seeds you fancy.

• griddle or grill any combination of aubergine / courgette/ red peppers / red onions and have with couscous. Nice with spicy harissa dressing (you can make your own really easily)

• cook couscous in veg stock (not just plain water) and have on the side with any kind of meat (eg lamb / pork chop, grilled chicken)

• make lamb stew and have it on a bed of couscous

Great baby food base if you are weaning - quick and good for LOs without teeth!

[Othersideofthechannel]

You could eat the dhal with couscous for a change.

Steam some chopped leeks, while still warm mix with cous cous and cubes of feta with a little salad dressing.

[walkinthewoods]

yum yum

[Hormonesnomore]

I use lentils in any recipe where mince would be the main ingredient - bolognaise, cottage/shepherd's pie, chilli, etc. I also add lots of veg & sometimes tinned beans. Healthy, cheap, but a bit explosive digestively speaking

[muffle]

Mix cooked green lentils in with fried onions, peppers and mushrooms (or veg of choice eg leeks/carrots would also work), herbs, a tin of chopped tomatoes, bit of wine and seasoning - stew for a while - then put in a casserole dish and cover the top with slices of buttered bread (fit them together to make a single layer), and bake in the oven till crispy on top. Fine on its own or nice with salad.

Cous cous is great - just cook and stir in any combo of stir-fried or roast veg,

[walkinthewoods]

Not thought of doing a splog with lentils actually.

muffle...that sounds good!

[woodstock3]

lentil curry? delia smith has an egg and lentil curry (sorry dont have link but bet it's on her website). pearl barley - use to bulk out stew with cheap cut of lamb? or veg soup?

[walkinthewoods]

MMMmmm Problem is, when I try to cook Delia Darhling it never seems to work very well?? But will defo give it a go.

I'm also going to have a bash at Scotch broth.

[Kammy]

Pearl barley makes great soup nice comfort food!Fry onion and a couple of small potatos for a few mins, but don't brown. Add stock, simmer, blend.

Depending on type of barley, soak overnight, boil and mix together, or, cook seperately, then mix. Nice with fried bacon bits on top.

I also use pearl barley in casseroles - lamb neck fillets are pretty cheap and livned up with barley and some veg. Very medieval.