What should I do with lentils?

[Jenbot]

I thought 'oh they'll be nice' but I really don't know what to make with them. Can you just tip some into a homemade soup? Do you have to wash them? Can a baby eat them - just boiled?
Ta!

bin them
disgusting things

Same as Jacksmama, chuck 'em!!

what sort/colour?
i love lentils. you can do all sorts with 'em.

Lentils are great, cheap and good for protein, vits and minerals! You just have to rinse them before use, cooked in around 20 mins - they disappear into the sauce..

My favourites with red lentils:

Carrot, parsnip, potato and lentil curry
Lentil, bacon and tomato soup
Red lentils can bulk out a normal spag bog for added nutrition and for the money conscious.

I had a delicious lentil recipe in Annabel Karmel´s Baby book, can´t find it.. Baby loved it so made it a lot!

weave them into beautiful edible art.

Make the best dhal you'll ever eat - thus:

Boil some red lentils till you can crush a grain without any hard stuff. Fry some onion, when translucent add some garlic and ginger, stir for a sec, then add a chopped tomato. The add a teaspoon of paprika, and half a teaspoon each of cumin, chilli powder, tumeric, coriander and garam masala. Once the spices are fried off a little, stir it into the dhal. Add chopped green chilli, salt and vinegar to taste. Serve with chapatis, or whatever bread you've got lying around.

My DS was weaned on lentils flavoured with all sorts of things (eg. lots of garlic or ginger or spices or herbs) alongside a great number of fruits and veg.

BTW cyteen - will try your recipe now. Was looking for some inspiration for DH tonight!

I got this from another thread ages ago and they are delicious.

Lentil & Cheese Wedges

Red lentils - 8oz/225g
Water 3/4 pint/450ml
Large Onion, chopped 1
Butter or marg 1oz/25g
Cheddar Cheese, grated 4oz/100g
Mixed herbs 1tsp
Egg 1
Breadcrumbs 1oz/25g
Salt & pepper to taste

Cook the lentils in the water until soft and all the liquid has been absorbed.

In saucepan, melt the butter and fry the onion until transparent.

Combine all the ingredients, press into an oiled 9"/23cm sandwich tin.

Bake in the oven at 190C/375F/Mark5 for 30 mins.

Serve hot or cold in wedges.

cyteen - what quantity of red lentils?

however much you feel is appropriate

I use lentils in
bolognaise (instead of mince)
vegetable soup
lentil loaf (sarah brown recipe is lovely)
pasta salad
lentil, mushroom and red wine sauce for pasta

Lentil soup

Ingredients:

1 cup red lentils
1 large onions
1 can chopped tomatoes
1/3 pint milk
paprika
chilli
garlic
tomato puree
veg stock cube
tsp marmite
worcester sauce

Chop onion and fry off. Add lentils and fry for 2 mins. chuck in can of tomatoes, milk, garlic, paprika and chilli (as much of each as you like). Stir until bubbling. Add veg stock cube, tomato puree and tsp marmite, worcester sauce and veg stock cube.

Stew for at least 40 mins. This is a good one to prepare ahead of time, and leave on a low heat.

You can add cooked bacon or chorizo to it too.

Serve with massive chunks of crusty bread.

babyOcho's recipe I think is from the BLW site, and is lovely. However I've started making the Sarah brown lentil loaf instead a sit's just as nice but doesn't need breadcrumbs (which I always find a faff)

Thanks for the inspiration everyone.

I think I'll try cyteen's dhal for my lunch. It'll have to be red chillies instead of green though!

Lentil dahl goes awfully well with spinach cooked up with flaked toasted almonds and a bit of honey [dribble]

How do you make the spinach and almonds?

Hm. The dhal recipe does sound good. Maybe I should change my position on lentils.

Puy lentils (the greenish/brown ones)are really nice as a salad - toss with pieces of tomato, cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, parsley, crumbled feta cheese, and a balsamic and olive oil dressing.

I often buy the lentils ready cooked in a can - just rinse under running water and use.