Health benefits of red lentils in your diet
LENTILS are an easy to use and very versatile food. They’re super nutritious and are a handy protein source, especially for anyone following a vegan or plant-based diet. They’re great for making lentil burgers, soup, dips, and salad recipes. Red lentil soup is one of my favourite soups, it is so easy to make. Green lentils can be used to make a delicious vegetarian toad-inthe-hole, or a shepard’s lentil pie, these recipes are in Rose Elliot’s Bean book. This book got me started on how to use pulses and lentils.
For a healthy snack alternative, you could try Eat Real Lentil Crisps, they got the thumbs up in my house, a much better choice than other crispy treats on the market.
Lentils come dried, or already precooked in tins. Some people find that lentils and pulses can make them a bit windy, this is common. You don’t have to soak dried lentils but soaking will reduce cooking time. Cooking them well will help you digest them better too. A digestive enzyme with Alpha Galactosidase enzyme will help if you still have difficulty digesting lentils or pulses.
All you have to with lentils is simply wash and strain . Green, brown, and Puy lentils will retain their shape after cooking and are good for dishes where you want texture. Red lentils and split peas don’t hold their shape as well, they tend to be mushier.
Red Lentil Soup: Ingredients:
1 onion,1 carrot, 2 Bay Leaves, 1 tablespoon of Marigold vegetable bouillon, black peppercorns ground, teaspoon chilli flakes, 4 oz of red lentils washed and strained, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 11/2 pints of hot water,1 tablespoon oil olive oil . Directions:
Sauté the onion and carrot together for 10 minutes, Add the washed red lentils, stir and simmer for a couple of minutes
Add the bouillon, chilli flakes, and bay leaves, stir and leave for a minute or two, Add the hot water and the black peppercorn
Simmer for about 40 minutes, Add the lemon, Blend, add salt to taste and enjoy.
So, don’t be shy of lentils, ask at your local health food store for some advice on how to cook them
Clair Whitty is a Bach Flower Practitioner, a Nutritional Health Coach at The Natural Health Store, 24 North Main Street, Wexford 053 9121613 clair@naturalhealthstore.ie www.naturalhealthstore.ie