Lovely Lentils

When going meat free we find ourselves looking for a new star of the show.  One rising star I have found would have to be the lentil.  The humble lentil comes in all shapes and sizes (well actually..... one shape.....disc) from the red lentil, the green lentil, to the posh and very trendy puy lentil.

Not only are they versatile, they are also have many great health benefits:

Protein Power - As we discussed in the Meat Alternatives post.  Lentils are a great source of protein.  In fact, 26% of lentil’s calories are attributed to protein.

Happy Hearts - Lentils have so much happy hear goodness packed into them.  Due to high levels of soluble fiber they can help to reduce cholesterol and the folate and magnesium content also helps maintain a healthy heart. 

Stabalising Energy -  As they are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates, letils increase steady, slow-release energy.  So no crash effect!

Happy Digestive System - Insoluble dietary fiber found in lentils helps prevent constipation and other digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome. 

So here are a couple of new recipes that have the wonderful little lentil as the key ingredient.  As ever let us know what you think and post to us any pictures of your attempts at the dishes!  Do you have any lentil recipes that you would like to share?  If so, message us on Facebook.

Bannon Dalh

This spicy and warming dalh is super easy.  It's a chuck it in the slow cooker and let it do it's magic kind of thing.  If you have left overs you could even add some more stock and blend it to create a spicy lentil soup!

Ingredients:

• 1 x large onion
• 2 x clove of garlic
• 2 x red chillis
• 1 x heaped tsp ground cumin
• 1 x heaped tsp ground corriander
• 1 x heaped tsp curry powder
• 1 x heaped tsp paprika
• 1 x heaped tsp tumeric
• Fresh ginger - about an inch, grated or chopped finely
• 1 x tin of chopped tomatoes
• Vegetable stock (1.5 pints - but you can add another 0.5 pint if it is required)
• Red lentils (6oz)
• Salt and Pepper

Optional ingredients to serve:

• Fresh corriander
• Natural yoghurt / creme fraiche

Method:

• Well this is easy............................put all the ingredients in the slow cooker.  Turn it to 'low' and leave it overnight (roughly 7 hours).
• To serve, have with rice or quinoa and add chopped corriander and natural yoghurt to taste.

Mrs J's Lentil Cottage Pie

This is a lovely warming comforting meal, a great one for those days when it is wet and miserable outside.  It's amazing how much flavour these wee lentils can soak up.

Ingredients:

• 150g lentil vertes
• 2 small onions
• 3 medium carrots
• 200g mushrooms
• 100g peas
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• Gravy granules (suitable for vegetarians)
• 3 x large potatoes
• 1 x tbs light soy sauce
• 1 x tbs tomato sauce
• Salt and Pepper to taste 
• Butter and Milk (enough to make the mash creamy and yummy)
• Optional - grated cheese

Method:

• Cut the potatoes into pieces, boiled and then mash.  Add butter and milk to make a nice silky mash potato.
• Boil the lentils in a pan of water with the stock cube for 5 minutes, then reduce to a simmer for a further 25 minutes.
• In a different pan, sweat the onions, mushrooms, peas and carrots until soft.
• Add the lentils to the onion mixture once cooked and half of the stock water.
• Add the soy sauce and tomato sauce.
• Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Thicken with the gravy granules.
• Season to taste.
• Add lentil mixture to the bottom of an oven proof dish.  Top with the mash potato to make into a cottage pie. Add grated cheese if using.  Cook in over until potato starting to crisp or cheese melted.

Hope you enjoy these recipes.