what should Liz do with a bag of lentils?

[edenfalling]

So hey, question for you all!

Today I acquired the bag of red lentils pictured above -- look when outgoing tenants leave stuff in their apartments at the end of their leases, sometimes we make off with various items before either donating the rest to the local re-use center or chucking it in the trash (depending on the nature and condition of said items), and dry goods are dead useful, generally speaking -- but unfortunately I have precisely zero idea what to do with them, aside from, you know, maybe make lentil soup with mixed vegetables.

Therefore: what are some good but fairly low-effort lentil-based recipes?

Comments

[tielan]

I rather like lentils with the leftovers for everything from curry sauce to roast juices - after all the meat and vegies are gone, they make a great 'filler'. Just cook them til they're soft enough for your taste, then add the warmed sauce/jus.

[edenfalling]

*makes note*

[autumnia]

I'd vote for making dal with red lentils. I love Ethiopian misor wat, the spicy red lentils dish, though that may not be everyone's taste and may need specialty ingredients. Otherwise, make Indian Dal. I've bookmarked this recipe from Real Simple ages ago though I haven't made it myself: Spiced Dal With Cilantro Yogurt.

Here's a recipe from one of my favorite lunch places in midtown:

Quick lentil salad (the recipe in the cookbook serves it with grilled salmon & a sherry vinaigrette -- let me know if you want the entire recipe ):
- 1 cup cooked lentils, at room temperature
- 1 medium avocado, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 4 cups arugula
- zest & juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons pecans, toasted
- 3 tablespoons parsley leaves
- salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, toss the lentils, avocado, arugula, lemon zest, lemon juice, pecans, and parsley. Season with salt & black pepper. Drizzle sherry vinaigrette over salad and serve.

[edenfalling]

Aside from the cilantro, that dal recipe sounds lovely. I may try it, but either leave the yogurt plain or flavor it with a bit of lemon instead:)

Alas, I am allergic to avocado and dislike pecans, so that salad will not work for me. But it definitely sounds tasty for anyone without those specific issues!

[autumnia]

I've also had lentils in fried rice recently and there are plenty of recipes out there if you want to try that too. I had it Asian style, so it used mixed veggies, soy sauce, sesame oil but there are a lot of variations if you want to try it with other ingredients.

Or use them to make meatless burgers: Red Lentil Burgers

[transposable_element]

It's not really soup season, but when the weather turns cold a bowl of lentil soup is very warming.

This time of year, I would make a salad. Cook the lentils until they're just tender, drain and rinse in cold water, and then add whatever herbs and raw or cold cooked vegetables you have. Dress with vinaigrette or nearest available equivalent (don't go too heavy on the dressing; usually it needs less than you would put on a similarly sized green salad). You can serve it chilled or room temperature.

[edenfalling]

*makes note*

[marmota_b]

Oh! Oh! I forgot all about the salads at my last work including the red lentil one. Sooooo ought to make something like that.
They made it with some sort of yoghurt dressing that was pretty good with it.

[marmota_b]

I was going to suggest something and then realised from Transposable's comment that it really is more of a cold weather dish.
But I like it!
So if you feel like it, lentils cooked (I think the recipe says with thyme), then salted, thickened with roux (traditionally made with lard but maybe you're better off using something else if you don't have nice lard...), add a bit of vinegar for taste (last time I was making it, I used balsamico). Eaten usually with sausages. Sometimes fried eggs. Or bacon. (And pickles, but I leave those out - I generally leave those out because they usually don't agree with me.) And you can also sautée some chopped onions to top it with.
It doesn't look like much but it's nice. It's one of my comfort foods and I don't make it anywhere near often enough because my sister does not like legumens very much. I prefer it only slightly vinegary.

[marmota_b]

Feast your eyes on the options: https://www.google.com/search?q=%C4%8Do%C4%8Dka+na+kyselo&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjp8J32vLHqAhXKMewKHUZmAFwQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1366&bih=686

[edenfalling]

Oooh. *makes note*