Healthy pulses
Dried or canned, lentils provide a hearty base for a meal and there are plenty of tasty lentil recipes to try. If you're vegetarian and you're looking for healthy foods to eat, they are an excellent source of protein and folic acid and there are plenty of healthy snacks you can make with them. They are also a good source of fibre so they keep you feeling full if you lead an active lifestyle and like to keep fit. If you use dried lentils they should be soaked overnight before using, while tinned lentils should be rinsed first.
Dhal (pictured above) is a spicy Indian dish made with lentils, split peas or beans. Made with onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric and garam masala, this is very nutritious – perfect for a healthy snack.
Lentils work well in salads, adding a nutty flavour. Why not try our Warm Puy Lentil Salad?
When cooked, lentils have a fibrous consistency that helps add texture and density – which makes them the perfect ingredient in soups, such as our Carrot and Coriander Soup.
Why not replace potato with lentils and fried onions for a more nutritious side dish? This works well with both fish and meat recipes.
If you’re making a stew or casserole and you’re short on meat, add some lentils – they’ll make it nice and thick and as they’re full of protein they are a great meat replacement.
You can make anything into pate, from meat to vegetables, and this lentil recipe for pate spread on an oatcake or hunk of crusty bread makes a very healthy snack – perfect if you’re on a vegetarian diet. First, cook the lentils, or drain them if they’re from a tin, then fry some onion and a few chopped garlic cloves in an ounce of butter until soft. Season and mix in the lentils and warm through. Blend until it’s smooth – add water if it looks dry – and add a splash of vinegar.