Lentils

Lentils, Lens culinaris, is defined by Webster as "a widely cultivated Eurasian annual leguminous plant with flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as fodder".  Lentils are one of many legumes and are eaten in many places around the world. The famous "Esau's Pottage" mentioned in the Bible is thought to be made of lentils.

Lentils come in green, brown and red. There are various shades between each of these colors. Brown lentils are the most common kind, green take the longest to cook, and red lentils are nutty and sweet. Lentils are good in soups, casseroles, and salads. They are also good with rice and are often used in Indian curries.

Lentils are loaded with  nutrition. They have potassium, niacin, zinc, iron and vitamin K. They are a good source of fiber and protein and are one of the oldest eaten foods in history.  They are filling and have a fiber content of 16 grams per cup. They are considered a lean protein because they have less than 1 gram of fat, and practically no cholesterol. They contain folate which is good for pregnant women because it may reduce the risk of the baby having a birth defect.

Here are the basic directions for cooking lentils. Take 1 cup of dry lentils and add 3 cups of water, chicken broth, or beef stock. Be sure to use a big pot as they increase in size when they are cooked. Bring to a boil. cover and reduce heat. Simmer until they are soft and tender. Some like their lentils mushy and some like them firm. This depends on how long you cook them. Cook about 20 to 30 minutes depending on how mushy you want the end product. Barley or brown rice and/or chopped onions can be cooked with the lentils and adding some onion salt can make them quite tasty.

Here is a recipe for a lentil casserole that I got from my mom. You may find it interesting. It goes good with baked potatoes and gravy.

1 C cooked lentils
1 can evaporated milk
1 C corn flakes
1 small chopped onion
1 T olive oil
1 or 2 teaspoons of sage, depending on how well you like sage
1 egg
1/2 C chopped walnuts.
Salt or onion salt to taste

Mix everything together and put in a casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Do you have a favorite way you like to fix lentils? Tell us about it in the comments below. Click on the words below that say 'no comments' and the comments box will show up.

Sources:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lentil
http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-brown-gre-111139
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-eating-lentils-4547.html

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com  Also, my new book Ten Spices for Health and Longevity. 

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull923@gmail.com