Love lentils? These delectable, protein-packed legumes are probably the most versatile plant-based meals on the market. As we speak I’m sharing a few of my favourite lentil recipes, from appetizers to entrees.
Lentils are one among my favourite plant-based sources of protein. Not solely are they stuffed with fiber and different important vitamins, they’re comparatively low price, and really simple to organize. Lentils are a part of the legume household, together with beans, peas, and chickpeas. They’re wealthy in folic acid, an essential nutrient, particularly for pregnant ladies. Lentils are additionally an awesome supply of potassium, a mineral that has been proven to assist cut back hypertension. The protein in lentils make them an awesome wholesome substitute for meat, and their excessive fiber content material helps maintain you full and happy.
Lentils are available in purple, brown, inexperienced and black varieties, and every have a novel texture and taste profile. Brown lentils have a light nutty taste, and can be utilized to bulk up soups, stews, and chilis. Inexperienced lentils, additionally known as French or Puy lentils, have a firmer texture and make scrumptious salads. Crimson lentils are delicate and delicate and are great in Indian dishes resembling dal. There are infinite methods to organize this wonderful edible seed, however at the moment I’ve put collectively ten of my all-time favourite plant-based recipes. I hope you take pleasure in these hearty and flavorful dishes!
Prime 10 Tasty Plant-Based mostly Lentil Recipes
Mini Curried Lentil Wellingtons
Whereas it’s the good elegant entrée, with its savory, fragrant lentil vegetable filling encased in layers of crisp puff pastry, these mini Wellingtons are additionally actually scrumptious as an appetizer or a complicated hand-held sandwich at a picnic or out of doors occasion (LA of us, suppose Hollywood Bowl). You may make them prematurely and eat them chilly, or simply heat them up within the oven previous to consuming.
French Inexperienced Lentil Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
A French ami shared her mom’s conventional recipe for lentil salad with me years in the past. This easy salad, seasoned with a French French dressing, is a traditional dish in France. It makes a beautiful, protein-rich spotlight of any meal. As a result of the flavors proceed to meld, it’s additionally nice the following day.
Pair this chili with a salad and a serving of rustic entire grain bread or my Cumin Cornbread Muffins, and you’ve got a balanced meal very quickly. You may as well throw all of those elements right into a sluggish cooker within the morning, and a savory, aromatic meal will greet you once you come house on the finish of the day. You need to use an On the spot Pot to get the meal executed much more rapidly.
Indian Fashion Yellow Lentil Stew
The key ingredient on this recipe is recent ginger—which provides simply the best pungent, sweet-spicy chew. And the perfume of this stew is sort of spectacular. Although this stew is so fairly, because of its sunny shade of yellow lentils, purple bell pepper, carrots, and tomatoes, you possibly can shift the colour palate with completely different decisions of elements. You may strive a special kind of lentil (inexperienced, brown, purple) or greens (inexperienced beans, peas, candy potatoes) within the recipe.
Crimson Lentil Stew with Root Greens
This savory Crimson Lentil Stew with Root Greens is a vibrant, sunny shade of orange—the proper solution to cheer up the cloudiest of days. Its hearty taste and texture make it excellent to pair with a easy salad or sandwich half.
Sage Lentils with Squash and Mushrooms
Flip to savory lentils ready with seasonal squash, earthy mushrooms, and fragrant sage for a easy, rustic meal you gained’t quickly overlook. You may get this simple plant-based dish for Sage Lentils with Squash and Mushrooms on the desk in 40 minutes. I like to serve it with entire grain bread and a crisp kale salad for a physique and soul satisfying meal on a cool night. The leftovers are great, too.
These Spicy Lentil Tacos are full of quite a lot of highly effective herbs and spices, together with garlic, chili peppers, chili powder, oregano, cumin, cayenne pepper, and cilantro. Heavy on taste and well being, you gained’t even miss the meat on this plant-based recipe!
Retailer-bought lentil pasta is one other nice solution to get in lentils! This recipe was impressed by a visit to my farmers market, the place a neighborhood mushroom grower sells assorted mushrooms—enoki, shiitake, cremini, hen of the woods, maitake, oyster—by the big bag for $10. I carry house one every week and get inventive within the kitchen all week lengthy. On this recipe, I showcase lentil pasta, since this gluten-free, nutritious pasta is wealthy in protein and provides a pleasant texture and shade to this dish.
Lentil Walnut Bolognese with Spaghetti
Consuming extra pulses—beans, lentils, dried peas—is a wholesome, cancer-fighting technique too. On this tremendous simple, one-dish meal, you swap out a conventional meat-based sauce for a tomato-forward, lentil and walnut Bolognese sauce, smothered over spaghetti noodles. Savory and scrumptious, your entire household will like it. Plus, it’s simple on the pocketbook and makes nice leftovers the following day!
Herbed Lentil Patties with Mushroom Sauce
I like these simple Herbed Lentil Patties with Mushroom Sauce for a consolation meals meal any day of the week. You may whip them up very quickly. The creamy, savory mushroom sauce is a superb topping. Serve this with whipped potatoes and a facet salad for a hearty meal that can fulfill the thoughts, physique and soul.
For extra scrumptious lentil recipes, try extra of my favorites:
Acorn Squash Filled with Sage Lentils and Wheat
Nourish Lentil Bowl
Curried Lentil Cauliflower Salad
Written by Ally Mirin, Dietetic Intern with Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
Picture: Dessert Sage Lentils from my upcoming California Vegan ebook
