Red lentil recipies please

[mummytopebs]

I have a big bag of red lentils in my cupboard that I got when I was weaning my baby. I am afraid to say they have never been opened and she is now 1!!! So please has anyone got some nice lentil recipes so I can eat them :)

I add them to sausage casserole - it bulks it out a treat and really tastes yummy!

Regarding recipes, I just chuck whatever I have in a pan but generally it is:

1. fry sliced onion until soft
2. fry sausages until browned (sometimes whole, sometimes chopped up)
3. boil lentils in sep pan then simmer for 10 mins, add to sausage and onions. Add some herbs if I remember.
4. Add tinned tomatoes, sometimes baked beans instead or as well
5. add seasoning and worcester sauce, sometimes mustard etc.
6. Cook on hob for anything over 30 mins - can stay for hours on low if needs be! May need to add water or gravy too, depends on how dry it gets.

Serve with crusty bread and wine!

Red ones are the little tiny ones aren't they?
I make 'Gardeners Pie' (not a pie at all) with them.
Red lentils
Swede
Mushrooms
Onion/carrot/celery
Stock
Cumin and ground coriander

Chop then fry onion/carrots/celery, add swede (I find the ready cubed stuff works a treat) cook in stock, add cooked lentils, add diced mushroom - season with salt and pepper. Add cumin and ground coriander to taste (cumin is a strong flavour, but coriander is mild and sweetish)
Simmer until its all soft.

(from my recipie favourites)

findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0820/is_335/ai_n15398244/

(I make the spicy daal dip the most - really easy and good hot with rice/flatbread or cold with crackers/plain tortilla chips..)

Also you can add a small handful into most stews...

here sorry

With a really nice stock, ie. gammon or chicken add an onion, veg stock cube and a cup and 1/2 of red lentils.
Simmer for 3/4 hour.
Whizz up with blender.

Lentil soup! Its sooo easy and sooo nice.

Fry chopped onion
Add lentils (no idea of measurement, maybe a couple of handfuls?)
Fry for a few secs.
Add tin of tomatoes
Add tinworth of water
Add a couple of heaped teaspoons on bouillon powder
Simmer for 30 mins (keep an eye that it doesn't get too dry, if it does add some water)
Liquidise
Maybe add some water
Season

You can also put bacon in at the same time as the onion. Or a bit of smoked paprika.

Can i recommend the lentil spag bol recipe here on mumsnet. It's a favourite in our house and easy and quick to prepare. A winner all round.....www.mumsnet.com/Recipes?call=RecipePage&pid=1806

I make little spicy lentil balls.

cook lentils and drain, add a squirt of tom. puree, curry powder to taste (about a teaspoon), a couple of ounces of grated cheese, wholemeal breadcrumbs - enough to make the mixture fairly stiff, a small egg to bind (add as much of the egg as needed, you don't want it sloppy)

Roll the mixture into balls (slightly bigger than a meatball), roll in flour, and set aside on a plate in the fridge to firm up. (you can put them in the freezer for a short time to really firm them).

then fry them in hot oil in a pan until nicely browned on each surface of the ball.

They are nice hot with rice and salad, but IMO they are even better cold the next day, when all the flavours have strengthened.

Good to make in batches and freeze, handy for packed lunches picnics etc.

You can obviously make them into little fat sausage shapes instead of balls if you prefer

Lentil, bean and tomato stew and dumplings

this is a vegan recipe but meat eaters adore it!!

Fry an onion til soft
Add a tin chopped toms
Add cup of veg stock
Add 3/4 cup of red lentils
Add tin of red kidney beans

Cook on low until lentils are soft, add more liquid if needed.

Make up dumplings with 4oz flour/2oz atora veg suet/ pinch salt and water to mix.

Make 8 dumplings, add them and cook stew for 20 more mins.

Serve with home made garlic bread :

Split those bake at home baguettes/rolls (do'nt bake them first, just take out the pack and split)

Spread thickly with soya margarine, sprinkle garlic granules and dried mixed herbs on top of marg.

Put in oven for few minutes til done.

a staple in our house
yum

and this one