Puy Lentils - how do they differ to any other lentil?

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Please help a healthfood novice. I am making a recipe that calls for puy lentils. When I went to my local smallish supermarket, they had green lentils, red lentils and mixed lentils but the only puy lentils I could see were in ready meals.

So, having seen a picture of the recipe, I bought green lentils as they were the right colour. Is this a mistake? What are puy lentils and how do they differ from any other lentil?

as far as I am aware the puy lentils are the green ones...they should be a mid green colour with a slight marbling pattern on them.

Puy lentils are a little bit smaller and browner than green lentils, but they are very similar and are interchangeable in recipes. Green lentils might need to be cooked for slightly longer though so check the packet

Well technically Puy is a place, they are green lentils from that valley, and the name is protected like Champagne, Stilton etc. You obvs pay a premium for this.
Usually Puy lentils are darker than 'normal' green lentils, and maybe taste a bit earthier. But like normal green ones, they don't break down as much when you cook them.

What was the recipe? I love lentils!

Thank you! Yes, the cooking instructions on the packet definitely say to cook them for longer than the recipe does. But that's ok as the recipe is for a salad so all the components are cooked separately.

IScream - it is a Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipe for puy lentil, cherry tomato and green bean salad which was in the Times on Saturday. I haven't got it with me at the moment, but it might be online or in one of his books.

Sometimes you can get "dark lentils" which are basically Puy lentils but grown somewhere other than the Puy region of France. Mine say they are from Canada.

Puy /puy style lentils hold their shape and consistency and hence are great for salads. Green should be ok but watch them as they cook as if you go too far they will go a bit mushier round the edges. But taste will be very much the same. Sounds nice - I will look for the recipe!

Brown lentils are normally the best substitute for puy.

Ooh, I saved that recipe to Pinterest, it looks really good. Enjoy!
It's from his new book isn't it - quick and healthy or some such.

Yes I think it is from this book.

Well, that makes sense anyway, as it new out this week so I guess the article was promotional.

OK, lentils are boiling as I type. Thanks for all the information. I will keep an eye on them in the hope that they don't go mushy.

Oooh. HFW has a new book.

River Cottage Veg everyday literally changed my life. We're not vegetarian but mow eat loads of much healthier, cheaper and more delicious meals than we used to.