is there anyone who can either tell me what is so great about lentils, or just come and sit with me and agree that they do not understand them....

[HappyPSYCHOnewYear]

please.

as I really don;t understand the appeal of putting lentils in food.

what function do they fulfil

and what nutrients do they provide??

are they not just teeny tiny hard blobs that go soft in water and just bulk out food??

one of the best and easiest soups i make is pre prepared butternut squash and sweet potato chunks, covered with a kettle full of boiling water and a big handful or so of red lentils, a bit of salt & pepper or a stock cube if necessary and simmer for a couple of hours and then blend.

dead easy,good for you and delish

Fry onions ginger and garlic. Add couple of tablespoons od Patak's curry paste. Add 250 g red lentils, stir until coated. Tin of tomatoes, tin of coconut milk, dash of soy, salt pepper. Simmer stirring frequently, adding more liquid if neccessary.

Divine.

My kids love it too.

Also as spider says with fetta and also capers.

I could happily live on aots, lentils and brown rice.

God moondog you must have really clear skin fart a lot

I use Oats as a thickener in casseroles, stews, soups etc since little one got IBS and can't have toms/onions - so rules out every gravy in the world

Potatoes are a good thickener, in soups, and breadcrumbs too

Red lentils have a weird texture though, I like them but not everyone does. DS is not particularly fussy but detests them.
So if you don't like red lentils it might still be worth trying other types. I think puy are the tastiest.

lmao at 'hideous quorn shite'

Laurie, no I don't, honestly!

I am vision of elegant ladylike decorum.

re lady like decorum

red lentils = fine

any other kind of pulse = swine

but that is prob just me.

oh and bay leaves are lovely with red lentils

Beansontoast, do you not like beans then?

BOT, I could cause you to swoon over chickpeas, butterbeans, all manner of the things.

Yummy salad made with tinned lentils (not red ones) - tin of brown/green lentils (drained), cut up boiled new potatoes, watercress, pieces of smoked trout or mackerel - mix all together in a salad bowl and pour over vinaigrette with French mustard in it.

Lovely!

i dont actually ...i might change my name...to lentil muck

oh mooners,but i DO SWOON...oh yes..but then we pay...we all pay,for days...i am not ,shall we say...'a lady'

BOT, as I tell dh, I don't object to farting per se, only when one is expelled in my vicinity.

You need to leave the room, expel excess air and return all the while smiling in poised fashion.

Can i just add that yes it counts as veg but only one portion. Say if you eat lentils for lunch and then again for dinner (not that you would anyway ) then you can only count one portion of veg.

They are easy to use in any dish, very high in protein and iron (if compined with vitamin C),and ...cheap .

you can also sprout them (not the red ones obv) and use in salad.
really am surprised anyone ever eats anything else
have also heard people (like the French) pollute lovely pure lentils with meaty substances.

oooh....lots of messages on here.

I am truly tempted to go stock up on lentils and hope that the children will eat them (and DH.....he is a huge fusspot)!