Do you want to serve a hearty and nutritious dish to your family? Do you want to prepare a healthy but tasty appetizer to impress your friends? Are you looking for a dish that can be easily cooked? Learn how to cook lentils and explore the different special recipes that use these vegetables as main ingredients.
The Traditional Method Used for Cooking the Vegetables
The steps in the traditional way of cooking lentils are easy to follow. The ingredients in this dish are ¼ cup chopped onion, two cups lentils, ½ teaspoon pepper and ½ teaspoon salt. Boil four to five cups cold water in a pot over medium fire. Add the vegetables and the onion. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season the dish with salt and pepper. Simmer for five minutes and stir occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat. Pour the dish in a small bowl. Garnish with a teaspoon of chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Lentil dishes can be served as starters or main courses. To savor healthy and mouthwatering dishes, try any of the special recipes, namely Creamy Caramelized Onion Soup and Barbecue Lentils.
Creamy Caramelized Onion Soup
The ingredients needed for this recipe are two cups lentils, four cups chicken broth, ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric, two tomatoes, a ginger root, a cup of milk, a teaspoon of salt, ¼ cup margarine or butter, a yellow onion, a teaspoon of cumin seeds and ½ teaspoon of ground pepper. Chop the tomatoes and ginger. Pour the chicken broth in a saucepan and add lentils, ginger, turmeric and tomatoes. Put the saucepan over low heat and simmer the mixture for 25 minutes.
Pour the mixture in a food processor and blend. Return the puree to the pot and add salt and milk. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer the puree in a bowl. Melt the margarine in a pan over high heat. Saute the onion and add cumin. Cook for five minutes. Add the onion mixture to the puree and garnish the soup with ¼ cup chopped cilantro.
Barbecue Lentils
This recipe consists two cups lentils, five cups water, ½ cup molasses, two tablespoons brown sugar, ½ cup ketchup, a tablespoon of vinegar, a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 16 ounces tomato sauce and two tablespoons minced onions. Boil water in a saucepan. Add the vegetables and simmer for half hour. Put the onions and brown sugar in the pan. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Simmer for five minutes. Transfer the dish in a baking pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the pan in the oven and bake for not more than 45 minutes. Serve immediately.
