Posts: 79
2/10/08 7:49 P

Hey Guys... Did you notice that today's Featured Recipe is "Lentil Vegetable Soup". Someone will need to try it out and post a review:)

Posts: 67
2/10/08 5:35 P

I just entered my favorite recipe for lentils at Sparkrecipes.com - Honey Baked Lentils. Try it! They are delicious. recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=228880

Posts: 4,535
2/10/08 3:16 P

Lentils are delicious. I will post my favorite lentil soup recipe in the Recipe Box forum under soups.

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Posts: 1,146
2/9/08 5:37 P

Thanks.. I guess I started this link in the wrong section.. just thought love to cook group was the best place for this thread :) Didnt realize there was a special recipe section :) Will know for next time! Anyways.. I bought some lentils today and I am going to try my hand at cooking them tonight with some of these fabulous recipes! Thanks guys!

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Posts: 12,153
2/9/08 12:50 P

I have friend who virtually lives on lentils! I ike them and try to remember them more often. THey are easy to cook, versatile and so cheap. I haven't come across red ones yet--they're my friend's favorite--but I've bought a couple of others and they are interchangeable.

I made a chicken and lentil stew that was delicious. Just cut up chicken breat with sauteed onions, garlis, mixed in lentils and added a can of diced tomatoes and cooked it a while. I inadvertently used a can of tomatoes with jalapenos and some other spices (I had forgotten I had bought it) so the stew was spicy but I think that actually made it better!

P.S. Lo and behold! I walked to the market this morning and found red lentils! They're really pretty, very tiny and delicate looking.

Edited by: BARBARASDIET at: 2/9/2008 (19:25)

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Posts: 444
2/9/08 7:28 A

For a very simple prep of lentils, I just make a simple soup. Pick through the lentils, then put them in a large pot with plenty of water (ie: 1 lb. package of lentils probably will take a good couple of quarts of water or more - I don't measure, so just use your eyeballs!), some roughly chopped carrots, celery and onion, and a little salt & pepper. You can substitute some broth for some of the water if you like. Add more liquid during cooking if it gets too thick. Cook for a couple of hours, till the lentils are tender, and it all has the consistency of soup.

You may want to add some grated parmesan when you serve. Add a salad and a slice of whole grain bread, and this is an easy meal.

If you make this and like it, try variations with different spices, add other vegetables, etc. Very healthy, very inexpensive and very easy.

Leonore

Edited by: LILEONORE at: 2/9/2008 (07:27)

Posts: 20,338
2/8/08 11:22 P

NO CAN DO THAT SORRY, IT WOULD BE EASIER THAT WAY BUT THERE IS JUST NO FEATURE ALLOWING US TO MOVE THINGS FROM ONE THREAD TO ANOTHER......SO SORRY OR ELSE I WOULD DO IT EACH AND EVERY TIME.....

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Posts: 8,645
2/8/08 11:17 P

I wonder would a team leader be able to move this whole thread to the recipe box forum?

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Posts: 371
2/8/08 11:11 P

I love putting lentils in soup....they thicken it....

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Posts: 6,895
2/8/08 11:05 P

Flowerfroggirl

Thanks for the recipe. I have not tried to cook lentils, but Hubby picked up some at the grocery and wants to try

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Posts: 27,426
2/8/08 10:26 P

Lentils are wonderful, you can stick them in Spagetti Sce to pad it out, mix them with ground meat to extend burger mixes, I even mix them in the mix for tacos.

The canned varieties are just as good as the ones you cook if you are in a hurry.

Love 'em

Posts: 20,338
2/8/08 9:48 P

IF YOU ADD RECIPES TO THE THREAD PLEASE GO TO THE RECIPE BOX HERE AT LOVES TO COOK AND REPOST THEM THERE AS THE MESSAGE BOARDS GET MOVED DOWN THE LIST TO MAKE ROOM AS THE NEW TOPICS COME IN AND ONCE THEY DO THE RECIPES ARE LOST FOREVER UNLESS YOU HAVE ALL NIGHT TO SEARCH FOR THAT PARTICULAR THREAD THAT IS WHY WE CREATED THE RECIPE BOX SO THAT NEVER AGAIN WILL WE LOSE THESE GOOD RECIPES TO THE MESSAGE BOARD SHUFFLE, PLUS ALOT OF TEAM MEMBERS DO NOT READ EACH AND EVERY THREAD THAT IS POSTED SO THEY ALSO MISS RECIPES THAT WAY WHERE AS IF THEY ARE IN THE RECIPE BOX THEY CAN GO THERE AND TRY ALL OF THE ONES POSTED. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS SPARK RECIPES THIS IS ONE THAT IS ON THIS TEAM ONLY.....IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS ON OTHER TEAM THEY ALSO CAN COME AND READ THE RECIPES THAT ARE POSTED WHICH MAKES IT A FUM FORUM FOR ALL...THANKS HEAPS

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Posts: 230
2/8/08 5:50 P

This is one I found on SP that I like. It's Lentils and Leeks:

http://sparkpeople.com/resource/recipes.asp?category=3&recipe=14244

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Posts: 332
2/8/08 5:18 P

Ghee is typically used in Indian cuisine and is butter that is browned and then clarified (milk solids removed). Clarified butters can be used for cooking at higher temperatures because the clarification process raises the smoke point.

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Posts: 79
2/8/08 5:12 P

silly question, but what is Ghee?

Posts: 3,855
2/8/08 1:21 P

I love lentils! They are so versatile and flavorful and they pack a great nutrtional punch! We usually eat red, green, or yellow, but they're pretty interchangeable in recipes (you just have to watch them so they don't get overdone, but that just means you have to test them every so often). A couple of my favorite recipes are linked below:

Apricot Lentil Soup:
recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=109368

Kushery (Egyptian-style lentils and rice)
recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=226794

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Posts: 332
2/8/08 1:06 P

There are a myriad of lentil varieties (hundreds perhaps). I frequently use brown & yellow split (channa dahl)depending if I want them to get soft and mushy or stay firmer and whole.

We enjoy lentils as vegetable packed soup with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar after cooking and before eating. We love to take cooked lentils and mix with a whole grain such as brown rice, millet or cous-cous and top it with caramelized onions and garlic. They can be cooked and pureed into a dip or spread with veggies or healthy pita chips.

Whatever recipe or method you choose, just be sure to rinse and pick over the lentils as sometimes very small stones can get mixed in a bag.

Bon Appetit!

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Posts: 1,146
2/8/08 1:04 P

When I go grocery shopping I will get some lentils this weekend and give cooking with lentils a shot :)
I really appreciate your time and effort posting these recipes for me :)

Posts: 8,645
2/8/08 12:28 P

I like the Lentil and Rice Casserole on this site - recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=75071

I use canned tomatoes instead of tomato soup and cut the chili powder to one teaspoon. I really like it I've made it several times this past month.

I also have some other recipes I like - a bean soup and a lentil and sausage recipe. I'll take a look at them and maybe I'll post one of them tomorrow. The soup is healthy for sure. The sausage one? I don't know. I know I cut the amount of sausage drastically, it wasn't a healthy recipe when my mother gave it to me. I've changed it. It's good though.

Edited by: SLOLOSER at: 2/8/2008 (12:28)

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2/8/08 12:24 P

Thanks so much for the recipe :)

Posts: 236
2/8/08 12:15 P

LOVE Lentils!!

This is my FAVE recipe so far.
Dal with Ghee, Cumin, and Mustard SeedsTry Cooking Light! Get 2 RISK-FREE ISSUES!Rating:

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Ghee, a browned clarified butter common in Indian cuisine, has a deep brown color and a rich, nutty flavor. If you prefer spicier dal, don't seed the jalapeño.

Ingredients
Dal:
3 1/2 tablespoons Ghee, divided
1 cup finely chopped onion (about 1 medium)
3/4 cup diced carrot (about 1 large)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 2 large cloves)
4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1/4 cup finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper (about 2)
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound yellow split peas
2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds


Preparation
Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons Ghee in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and garlic; cook 5 minutes. Stir in broth and next 7 ingredients (through peas); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Place mustard and cumin seeds in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; cook for 1 minute or until toasted. Add remaining 3 tablespoons Ghee; cook 1 minute or until seeds begin to pop. Stir into soup; serve immediately.

Note: Nutritional analysis includes Ghee.

Yield
6 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 387(19% from fat); FAT 8.3g (sat 4.7g,mono 2.4g,poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 22.9g; CHOLESTEROL 19mg; CALCIUM 41mg; SODIUM 567mg; FIBER 2.4g; IRON 4.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 57.7g

It's very thick and filling and you don't need much else but a nice cucumber salad with it.

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Posts: 1,146
2/8/08 11:51 A

Does anyone cook with these? If so, which kind? and can you share a good recipe with me! I am interested in adding these to my diet :)
Thanks
Rachelle