Yummy lentil, split pea and chickpea dishes?

[4TheLoveOfBob]

I am after ideas for the above.

I can make a basic dahl, lentil curry and chickpea tagine, but need some new recipes.

Tia veggie ones :-)

aftereights so glad! I vary it by sometimes using potato (fry with the spices) or paneer x

Laksa that sounds lovely! I'm going to make it next week

Sorry, LASKA!

I like to make kidney beans, yellow lentils, brown and red split lentils with spinach which is just divine. I don't normally eat spinach but with these lentils its amazing. The red chilli gives it a wonderful kick

Red Split Lentils with Spinach

I made the mejadra last night and it was really scrummy. Definately on my list of recipes to do again.

These are all so lovely I want to cry.
I have a high need 6 month old and cooking for more than 10-20 minutes is not possible.
/dramatic sigh
I need a free babysitting service from 5.00-6.00 PM, damn it!

I wonder if I could ask a question about chickpeas? I've only had them a few times and so far, am not a fan. They always seem slightly crunchy, it sort of feels to me like they need cooking longer. I have a tin of them lurking in the cupboard but am not sure if there's something I can do to make them a better texture, or if this is just how chickpeas are? Thanks folks.

MrsPenny, I have found you have to hunt around until you find a supplier you like! I hate crunchy chickpeas, and even Waitrose tinned chickpeas were crunchy!!! Anyway a few weekends back I even went to the lengths of trying to cook mine from
scratch using dried chickpeas in an attempt to get meltingly soft ones! (it didn't work!)
I did find that the organic chickpeas in Tesco's in the Tetra packs are divine and so soft and lovely (they are on the shelf with the other tinned pulses), do give them a try if you can, I am so pleased to have discovered them!

Made a delicious lentil curry last night though I can't claim all the credit as I cobbled together lots or the recipes from here into one.

Fry onions in olive oil & add garam masala, turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, frozen ginger, garlic, diced chilli & give a good mix. I sort of sprinkled the spices in & didn't measure any of them.

Add a tinned of tomatoes, then rinse out tin into pan. Add vegetables stock cube I used Kallo organic as that's what I had. Add tin of lentils stir in & cook everything together for a few minutes.

When I tested it I wanted extra ginger & chilli so added that at this point.

It was yum.

Thanks for this thread. I have included 2 recipes from here in this weeks mealplan. Will report back

lolalotta it is indeed a tin of Waitrose chickpeas that's in the cupboard! Good to know it's not just a feature of chickpeas generally. We don't have a tesco nearby, so I might just remain chickpea-free for now.

I always buy the Asian brand tinned chickpeas - KTC and Natco; look in the Asian aisle of supermarkets / Asian shops. Those chickpeas are always plump, soft and lovely. And cheap.

MrsPenny I like chickpeas mashed with olive oil so you could try that to use up your crunchy ones? cook them for a bit in water first. and I don't salt when cooking as have read it makes them tough.

No Asian shops around here unfortunately, not even a Chinese supermarket. I miss living near those kinds of shops, now I have to buy all my herbs and spices in Schwarz jars.

Rooty will try them mashed, thanks. Is there anything other than hummous that uses them pureed?

Natco Indian foods online

DC's had the sweet potato and chickpea curry tonight and loved it. Frozen my portion fir later in the week. Vegi lentil spag bol for tea tomorrow :)

Nigella's veggie chilli is a great, easy, everyday family recipe. I don't bother with the cornbread - just serve with rice.

Recipe is for 10 but it halves easily

www.clairescakebake.co.uk/tag/cornbread-topped-vegetarian-chilli/

Yes, Nigella's chilli is decent - but mine is even better! :)

Hers is dead-easy though and cheap to make too.

MrsPenny and anyone else in search of decent, non-crunchy chickpeas, EastEnd brand are good and are stocked in most supermarkets. Sometimes in larger supermarkets they are not with the other tins but in the dedicated Asian section. They really are worth tracking down though.

The ones Loletta mentioned upthread, tescos organic ones in tetra packs are definitely soft and not slightly crunchy.

I found some Napolitana (? I think that's spelt right, the people who do tinned tomatoes) chick peas the other day and they were fab, really big and buttery.

I made a lentil shepherds pie and a lentil moussaka recently - both were really nice!!

I heard that chickpeas make a good alternative to tuna in pasta - does anyone know if it's true?? Tuna mayo pasta is one thing I miss!

This is a lovely summer salad:
Puy lentils (cooked in veg stock), lemon zest and juice, olive oil, finely sliced red onion, chopped cherry tomatoes or sun blush tomatoes, feta, any herbs (parsley, basil etc), chopped baby spinach and a handful of rocket. You can buy the puy lentils ready-cooked in sachets too.