Welcome to our newest feature on the ETM Blog; Eat This Recipe. Once or twice a week, we’ll showcase healthy and interesting recipes that are easy to incorporate into your meal plans and might help you avoid boredom in your diet. You also might pick up a new favorite ingredient or expand your kitchen skills as you try them out.
This week, we’re talking about lentils. These humble legumes are an excellent source of fiber, protein and a variety of vitamins and minerals, making them a solid compliment to any healthy diet, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. Perhaps you haven’t considered eating lentils because, well, they can be a little dull on their own. (No offense, lentils, but you know it’s true.) However, with the addition of a few spices and supporting ingredients, these versatile little beans can transform into flavorful and fulfilling meals. Did I mention they’re one of the fastest cooking beans out there? And that they’re an economical way to go meatless more often? Yes and yes!
Here are three recipes for lentils that take less than an hour to make and are far from boring. Try them and let us know what you think. Enjoy!
Curried Lentils – This warm and filling recipe is perfect for a chilly day. You only need five ingredients to make it, and the recipe can be adjusted for more or less spice, depending on your palate. You can even add veggies like carrots, celery and onion; just saute them a little before adding them to the boiling lentils.
Easy Lentil Burgers – Talk about elevating a simple little bean… These burgers free lentils from their bowl and place them next to our favorite bun-based meals. This is another example of a recipe that you can get creative with by adding your own spices.
Lentil and Rice Salad – Simple, light and flavorful, this recipe is good all year long and is incredibly easy to make. Just prep the veggies while the lentils and rice cook. It’s ideal for hot summer days, or when you want something filling that isn’t heavy like a soup or stew.
