Really stupid question

[duvetfan]

Hi. I am going on mat leave in a few months and need to manage our money better. I keep reading about adding lentils to bulk out mince and I was wondering what kind of lentils you use. I only have red lentils but can't imagine how they taste in bolognese etc. Do you cook them separately first or just throw them in? sorry for sounding dense.
Thanks in advance.

Soak them first then cook in the sauce. They've not got a strong flavour so can be added to bolognaise, curry, soups and all sorts!

Red lentils will cook in 10-15 mins so just pop them when the mince has browned and add some water or stock for them to soak up. For extra cheapness google jack monroes chicken liver and lentil bolognese, so bloody tasty.

Thank you so much for the quick replies. I have only ever used them in soup Mogz but curry sounds great. I am rather looking forward to trying this. That recipe sounds good EwanHoozami, off to google it now. Thanks again.

Not a stupid question - I've always wondered this, too. Usually use tinned lentils in stuff as didn't know what to do with the dried ones

I use dried red lentils as a base for tomato soup - cook till they are mushy, add other ingredients, use a stick blender - lovely thick soup (and no gluten in them either)

Also the dried ones are v handy if you don't have ceramic marbles when you are blind baking a pie crust. (scrunch up greaseproof paper several times so that it is nice and soft, put it over the pie, pour the red lentils over it so that it sits into the pie and helps it hold it's shape)

duvet have you seen the credit crunch section on MN? You might get some more tips

you can use oats to pad out mince too - a lot easier than lentils!
Also, grated potato and grated carrot work well too.

Thank you for all your replies. Glad I am not the only one who was confused OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly, lentil soup has been one of my cravings my poor DH has never eaten so many lentils and he is a lentil fan! JiltedJohnsJulie ( I have always loved your user name) I haven't seen the credit crunch section- I will have to investigate. In all honesty we spend a ridiculous amount on food as we are so disorganised and never meal plan but I know we could make huge savings by planning and being more frugal. We have left saving for mat leave a bit too late so it will have to be serious cut backs from now on. Twitterqueen do you just add oats straight in? I never thought about grated potato, that's another great idea.