This is a basic question but how do I use lentils to pad out a meal?

[fishnet]

I have two packs of dried lentils in the cupboard but no idea what to do with them to make them edible and then what meals I could hide them in.

Could do lentil and bacon soup.
Fry onions, add bacon, add lentils stock, tin of tomatoes, garlic and cook for 40 mins ish. Hey presto!

Do I literally put the lentils in or do I have to cook them or soak them or something first?

i also use red split lentils to bulk out anything with mince, cook with extra water/liquid and let it simmer until lentils disappeared

green lentils i boil, then toss with olive oil, garlic and spices

i also make dahl with red lentils

They are dried red lentils

do they taste of much? Don't want to add them to spag bol and find everyone refuses to eat it.

Right, I'm going to give it a whirl!

Thank you

Green lentils are lovely in stews like a beef stew or similar. Red lentils will kind of dissolve and thicken the sauce if you cook them for a good long time so I'm with ruby -I bet nobody notices!

i often put them in a thai grren chicken curry, stick them in with the browned chicken, some stock, thai green paste and coconut milk. my dp loves this and it makes the whole meal go further. yum!