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?

Lentil salad - diced red onions, carrots, celery, feta, bell peppers, cucumber, handful of cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley, spices (turmeric, paprika, coriander, ginger, cumin) with a lemony dressing.

Or (all should be googleable):

Nigella’s poached chicken and lentils

Dahl

Moroccan lentil and chickpea coconut curry

Nigel Slater’s pumpkin and lentil stew

“Didn't your mother ever teach you that if you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?”

No.

She’s 78 and is capable of using Google.

Placemarking, some of these ideas are great!

Some of y’all must be so bored to get bitchy about lentils

I also think your posts are unnecessarily unpleasant Spermysextowel

There are some lovely recipes here. Thanks to those who posted them.

I don't think the OP buying one pack of lentils was the reason for the whole countries empty shelves recently? She might have gone for her usual (pasta or rice) and it was sold out so she thought she'd try lentils? Bit harsh.

www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/red-lentil-kofte-mercimek-kofte

Lentil kofte

www.nigella.com/recipes/members/skittles-vegetarian-chilli
This is very popular in our house.

Lentil ragu - check BBC Good Food for the recipe , it's lovely with pasta or even as a snack with a garlic flat bread.

I put red lentils in pasta sauce.
they kind of melt and thicken the sauce and add protein & fibre.

Moroccan lentils
Use a pressure cooker

Cheesy red lentil bake is a crowd pleaser. Just fry some onion and the lentils, then cook in stock and chopped tomatoes, put into the oven with cheese on top.

BBC food has some great recipes - like the spicy lentil and carrot soup which is delicious and filling.

@Oncewasblueandyellowtwo

It’s you!!! Hello! We’ve been joking about you in my family for weeks 😁.
We all eat lentils, dried chickpeas and other less mainstream items. When the initial panic buying started all this stuff disappeared from shops overnight leaving us unable to get our normal items. We all joked that there’d be hundreds of people sitting at home in a few weeks time staring at a bag of green lentils wondering what on earth to do with them.... and here you are!!

I’m going to tell my mum, you’ll really make her day?

Lentil daahl, add them to soups and stews ... those are easiest. Enjoy!

Yes, YAB a little U: due to a combination of dietary choices and a young son with a severe allergy to a major food group, I have always cooked with lentils 2-3 times a week. Before we were in lockdown, I went to do my normal regular food shop and lentils of all kinds were suddenly impossible to buy. I came home and said to my partner: 'I bet all the people who have now panic bought lentils don't even know what to do with them' 🙄

I made a lentil and sweet potato chilli

Red lentils
These cook to a mushy consistency
Dhal
Walnut and lentil Ragu for pasta ( favourite in our house)
Soups for texture
Use as a sauce/base for stews , curries .etc

Green lentils or puy lentils
These hold their shape more when cooked
Use in pies,stews, soups.

I would use these more as an alternative to when you might use mince or.meat ( lasagne, lentil shepherds pies, lentil and veg pies in pastry,

Can also be used to make lentil burgers

Op ignore the posters who think they are more worthy than you. Unless you bought tens of kilos your one little bag will not have caused shortages. It's everyone together that did it. And everyone being home.

Dahl is the food of the gods if you've yellow red or black lentils.

Green or puy lentils are delicious with sausages or salmon in a more french or Italian style.

Lots of ideas online.

I always put a handful into every soup, stew or tomato based pasta sauce as well as curry/Dahl. The children don't notice it and eat it happily and it thickens it as well.

@disconnecteddrifter that recipe sounds lovely, do you mind sharing?

Wow at the people being rude to the OP - is no one ever allowed to buy or try something new? How are we meant to expand our diets if we’re only allowed to buy things we always buy?! Ridiculous.

Dal is simple and delicious - yellow or red ones work best. For green ones I cook with pancetta, onion, garlic, thyme and stock then serve with pork belly

To all those saying they can't find them, the world foods aisle have had them for over a week now. Panic buying seems to just be flour and eggs now (and I think that's just increased demand due to boredom baking)

@BuffaloCauliflower I did feel a bit frustrated when they all disappeared for a few weeks and I suppose the knock on effect is that I had to then think of something else that I could buy to cook with that I might not otherwise normally buy much of and so perhaps took something that someone else needed. Absolutely up for people trying new things because they want to experiment, but do you think there could be an argument for choosing an ideal time and reason for this? A sudden change in shopping habits amongst many consumers all at once is what leads to supply and demand issues.

And now I know why I can't get hold of any lentils - when I actually want them, and cook with them regularly. So frustrating that there are store cupboards up and down the country stuffed full of food that will never be eaten, meaning other people are struggling to get hold of food they actually need!

OP, to answer your question, a few of my fave lentil-based recipes:

Sausage and lentil casserole.Can't find the actual recipe I use, but it's something like this, except I use green lentils, don't add carrot, and do add a bit of allspice, juniper berries and chilli.
www.cauldronfoods.co.uk/recipes/sausage-lentil-casserole

Jamie's salmon with herby lentils and yoghurt:
www.mydish.co.uk/recipe/57611/salmon-fillet-wrapped-in-prosciutto-with-herby-lentils-spinach-and-yoghurt-

Aubergine dahl:
thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/aubergine-dal-with-crispy-cauliflower-green-chutney-dosa-and-a-crunchy-salad