AIBU to ask WTF I'm supposed to do with lentils???

[ImNotChangingMyUsernameAgain]

Ok, so it's not like they were forced on me unwittingly. I bought them when I thought fresh food might become scarce after being persuaded on some of the prepper threads. Now that I have them what should I do to them to turn them into something my family might eat?

I agree RedDiamond. I use lentils several times a week, along with other pulses. Why buy something you haven’t got a clue how to use?
Key rule of prepping, stash food you are going to eat.

You don’t know what type, and are they tinned, packaged or dried? Because that affects how you cook them, and the length of time involved.

I agree with pp, add them to home made veggie soup. If you’re a decent chef, make a lentil and mushroom ‘cottage’ pie. Use them to bulk up lasagna, spag Bol, curry etc.

Find out what type and then Google recipes.The good food and BBC ones are reliable.
Dhal is tasty and freezes well,we have it as a side rather than a main dish.
If it is brown,speckled or puey lentils the you can make a lentil Bolognais to serve with pasta,add chilli and kidney beans,add extra tomato puree and use to make a lentil lasagne.

Throw them in with any mince based dishes to bulk them out. I did shepherds pie last night and added a tin of green lentils; 2 portions have now gone in the freezer after feeding 4 of us last night & 2 lunch today. If they're dried they might need soaking first, just check on the packet.

There's a Jool's Oliver easy chicken curry that has lentils too which my lot love. Or braise with little gem lettuce, chicken / veg stock & peas as a side with chicken / salmon.

Send them to me! Seriously. You weren't the only one to panic buy. I'd laugh if it wasn't starting to get serious for me and my family, we are veggie/vegan and rely on lentils, chick peas etc for all our meals. There are none to buy. I'm normally really laid back about stuff but it's REALLY starting to annoy me.

In answer to your question OP google Meerha Sodha, she has loads of lovely recipies

My family love red lentil bolognese with spaghetti - I don't use a fixed recipe but it's something along these lines (dried herbs are fine if you don't have fresh): cookingonabootstrap.com/2013/02/13/red-lentil-bolognese-recipe/
For some reason it tastes so much better if you add a knob of butter or a slug of olive oil before you serve.
Eat with grated cheese and plenty of black pepper.

Well, for starters I'm a grown adult with the ability to learn new recipes that my family might enjoy. Didn't realise there was some mad unspoken law about saving lentils for those who are truly deserving of them. Next you'll be castigating me for having secured a weekly Ocado slot.

Thanks to those who have made helpful suggestions. The lentils will be put to good use.

Lentil dhal is delicious...
Lentils, curry powder, stock cube, tumeric, water, tomatoe paste...et voila!

I used to make a really nice vegetarian lasagne with red lentils, the recipe was from one of my HE recipe books from school but I'm sure there's recipes online, only reason I don't make it now is because my partner and daughter probably wouldn't eat it but it was lovely!

Potaje de lentejas is my favourite lentil dish.

I make red lentil and roast butternut squash soup/rentil and tomatoes soup. Green lentil and sausage stew.

Red lentil, not rentil...

You could make lentil fritters, they're delicious! You could wash and soak them for about half an hour (until they've expanded) then blend them. To the lentil mixture add thinly sliced onions, salt, turmeric, curry powder and a bit of chilli with coriander. Mix it all up and shallow fry.

Lentil casserole. It's cheap as chips, delicious and uses store cupboard basics.
Proportions:
1 cup ish red lentils
Same of brown rice
1/2 cup of chopped onions (I make double quantities)
Garlic and herbs to taste

Chuck in a casserole dish. Add veg stock to cover generously. Put in the oven, with a foil cover, at about 180 for an hour. Check it's not getting too dry, add extra stock to keep it at a thick stirable consistency. Chuck a generous layer of cheddar on top and bake uncovered for 20 mins until cheddar makes a thick golden crust. Serve with green salad and vinaigrette. Absolutely bloody lovely. We have it for Christmas Eve as it's such a family favourite.

Lentil and chorizo stew is lovely; Fry the chorizo and put to one side, fry off onion, add tinned tomato’s pre cooked lentils, turmeric and paprika, blend til smooth, add the chorizo, (I often add a tin of beans and some veg at this point). Lovely with nice bread.

Sorry - I double the quantities of all ingreds not just the onion.

Use to make veg lasagnia. Dhal, soup, stews, Lentil Fritas.

Our previous childminder used to just cook them with some onion, garlic and cumin then squeeze quite a bit of lemon and pepper at the end. Delicious

I’m a grown adult and I can use the internet thing to put in what ingredients I have & see what it comes up with.

This is tasty. Enjoy all the new recipes :)

I use this recipe, I dont bother with the wine I just use stock. I add mushrooms, half a tsp of paprika and a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sausage-lentil-one-pot

Roast chopped courgette, pepper, mushrooms etc in a small roasting tin. 15 min. Add chopped chunks chorizo and roast for 5-10 more mins. Add washed lentils and stock, put back in oven for 20mins. Top with halloumi and grill for a few mins. Serve with crusty rolls and butter. You’re welcome.

Shepherd's pie with sweet potato mash: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/veggie-shepherds-pie-sweet-potato-mash 😋