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?

Rinse them well, lightly fry some chopped onions with a bit of fresh pepper, then chuck chopped carrots and swede in the pan with the lentils and plenty of ham stock. (Or veg stock).
If you wanna get fancy, you could make it with some boiled gammon too. Mixed herbs as well if you like

When I boil gammon, I boil it in cider. I chuck a couple of onions and carrots in and a tablespoon of black treacle. The resulting liquor makes the most fantastic lentil soup.

I spice up my soup with cumin, turmeric, paprike (smoked and unsmoked) some ground ginger and few shakes of Tabasco to give it some heat.

It's bloody gorgeous, really filling, but my God does it make us fart! So much so that DP calls it flatulentil soup.

Lentil shepherd's pie
Lentil curry
Lentil soup

I love lentils so much.

URGENT: Do I have to soak the lentils if just chuck them in with the sausage casserole?

I always add a handful to bolognese, cottage pie or make shepherdess pie (which is a vegetarian dish). They can go in tonnes of recipes and are very good for you.

Do you soak them first?

No lentils do not need presoaking

Fgs. There's a first time for everyone to cook anything! Buying one bloody packet of lentils because of lockdown, finding out how to cook them and maybe discovering a new ingredient that you love is perfectly reasonable. I cook with lentils a lot too. That doesn't mean the OP isn't allowed to try them.

Coconut dhal with the red ones, OP. Fry onions until dark brown, add garlic and chilli and curry powder, then lentils which you've simmered in water for 15 mins. Stir in coconut cream ir coconut milk. Yum.

Lentil dahl. Mmmmmm

Yes you should soak lentils in salted water before cooking as it tenderises them and makes them more able to absorb flavours. If you haven’t add more salt and water to your dish and cook on a low heat.

I thought the opposite was true and you shouldn’t add salt to pulses when they are cooking as they can go tough.

Pilaf is good! You don’t have to soak them but if you find beans hard to digest it might be a good idea.
Good luck!

Red lentils:
Lentil spaghetti
Lentil gratin
Spicy lentil, carrot and tomato soup

Split pea lentils:
Dahl

I always put a few red lentils into chillies, spaghetti bol and cottage pie. Cuts the calories and fat and makes the meat go further.

Oh, I also use it in Linda McCartney's vegetarian kedgeree recipe which is very moreish.

My blood is boiling! I use loads of lentils in all sorts of things. I haven’t been able to buy them for weeks - and I am missing them! Why would you buy something you don’t know how to use?

This comment must be a joke 😂

I’d love for you to just chuck them in the bin OP to piss of the idiots moaning even more😂

OP what spices do you have in your pantry? Boil the lentils like a soup but with some indian spices and then eat with rice.

I never soak lentils and it's fine.

But afaik 'brown' isn't a recognised lentil variety. What does it say on the pack?? Puy? Beluga? Urad?

pearled spelt which I make delicious by cooking in vegetable stock then stiring through slowly caramelised onions, pomegranate seeds, pistachio kernels and lots of chopped parsley.

Sounds exotic and delicious! Hope you enjoy your lentils, they're versatile and yummy.

I make risotto with red lentils and any vegetables I fancy putting in. Great way of getting everybody, mainly dh, to eat enough veg 😊

Are the ones complaining that you bought lentils for real????

Fucking hell they'd hate me, I've got about 20 tins in my cupboard (which I bought last year before you come at me with your pitchforks).

I like them in curries and soups.

Red lentils are the only edible lentil imo. They have a creamy texture and peppery flavour.
Mejadra is made with 2/3 brown rice and 1/3 red lentils. Cook the rice for 20 mins with a bay leaf or two and a generous splash of pepper, chicken stock, onion and thyme. Then add the lentils and cook til done.
Use in place of rice or potatoes.

@Thelnebriati No. Yellow split peas are the best. You want to apologise, or are we going to have to step outside?

I will never apologise. NEVAIR! Its ladles at dawn...