A good lentil soup and other lentil uses?



Lentils are great because they’re cheap, filling and cook faster than dried beans… however I’m not finding that much use for them. We eat vegetarian at home, so I attempted a lentil vegetable soup, but with only vegetable broth and spices it was pretty bland to me. I smashed some up to make a lentil spread that I will try warm on toasted bread and reserved some to serve as a side dish. I need a really good lentil vegetable soup recipe and other uses for these things!


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6 comments a "A good lentil soup and other lentil uses?"

I like to just saute onions, garlic & peppers and add olive oil & vinegar to make a cold dish

they are good with curry

Here’s another dish with peppers -http://allthingsitalianinmt.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/recipe-lentil-and-pepper-salad/

bell peppers stuffed with lentils…..

Spicy Tomato and Lentil Soup

1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 chile pepper, chopped
1 cup red lentils
1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes
1 cup water
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 cup sour cream, for topping (optional)
2 sprigs fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Lightly brown the onions in the oil. Add the tomatoes, chili pepper, lentils, cumin and basil to the pan along with the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
When the lentils have softened, use a stick blender to puree the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. For a special touch, put sour cream in a squirt bottle, and squeeze a spiral onto the top of each bowl of soup, and garnish with a sprig of fresh basil.

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Quick Pasta and Lentils

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (19 ounce) can lentil soup
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1 (16 ounce) package ditalini pasta
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Brown onion and garlic in oil over medium heat. Stir in lentil soup and tomatoes. Bring to boil. Stir in spinach and spices. Simmer.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until almost done. Drain. Mix pasta into lentil sauce. Cover, and keep warm for 20 minutes. Serve with Parmesan cheese.
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Spicy Indian Dahl

1 cup red lentils
2 tablespoons ginger root, minced
1 teaspoon mustard seed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
4 tomatoes, chopped
3 onions, chopped
3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander seed
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup water
salt to taste

Cook the lentils by boiling or pressure cooking until lentils are soft. (Pressure cooking is faster.)
In a skillet heat the oil and add mustard seeds. When mustard seeds begin to flutter, add onions, ginger, jalapeno peppers, and garlic. Saute until the onions and garlic are golden brown. Add coriander and cumin. Add chopped tomatoes. Saute the mixture well until tomatoes are well cooked.
Add water. Boil 6 minutes. Add cooked lentils, stirring well. Add salt to taste, stirring well. Add finely chopped cilantro and remove from heat. Serve hot with naan bread.
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Egyptian Koshari

3/4 cup brown lentils
4 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 cup elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Combine the lentils and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat for 25 minutes. Add the rice to the lentils, and continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes, or until rice is tender.
Fill a separate saucepan with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is lightly browned. Pour in the tomatoes and season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for 10 to 20 minutes.
In a large serving dish, stir together the lentils, rice and macaroni. Mix in the tomato sauce until evenly coated.
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Vegetarian Lentil Meatloaf

1 1/2 cups French green lentils
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup crushed flax seed
2/3 cup egg whites
1 (6.5 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
salt to taste

Measure the lentils into a saucepan and fill with enough water to cover them by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 45 minutes. Check occasionally and add more water if needed. Drain and set aside to cool.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8×4 inch loaf pan.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the onion, carrot, bell pepper and wheat germ. Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Put the lentils into the food processor and process into a paste. Spoon the lentils into the bowl with the vegetables and mix in the rice, bread crumbs, flax seed, egg whites, tomato sauce and olive oil. Season with thyme, cayenne pepper and salt. Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until heated through and browned on the top.

Lentil Soup –

INGREDIENTS
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 cups dry lentils
8 cups water
1/2 cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons vinegar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
Stir in lentils, and add water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.

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Lentil Loaf –

INGREDIENTS
1 1/8 cups green lentils
2 1/4 cups water
6 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
2 eggs
1 cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 packet dry vegetable soup mix
1/3 cup dried bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS
Combine lentils and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until tender, about 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups cooked lentils, bread, eggs, broth, tomato paste, basil, garlic powder, black pepper, parsley, olive oil, and dry soup mix. Spread into prepared pan.
Bake for 40 minutes. Sprinkle top with dry bread crumbs, and continue baking another 10 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

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Wendy’s Quick Pasta and Lentils –

INGREDIENTS
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (19 ounce) can lentil soup
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1 (16 ounce) package ditalini pasta
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
Brown onion and garlic in oil over medium heat. Stir in lentil soup and tomatoes. Bring to boil. Stir in spinach and spices. Simmer.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until almost done. Drain. Mix pasta into lentil sauce. Cover, and keep warm for 20 minutes. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

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Lentil Chili —

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
4 cups chopped onion
1 bulb garlic cloves, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package dry lentils
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 dash paprika
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced celery

DIRECTIONS
Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a large pot over low heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook until tender. Mix in lentils, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes. Pour in the water. Season chili with chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Mix carrots and celery into the chili. Continue cooking 20 minutes over low heat, until lentils, carrots, and celery are tender.

I make a few versions of a lentil salad

I also make lentils and wheat (a middle eastern dish)

my mother makes a lentil salad (she is french and makes a salad out of anything)

1 T wine vinegar
1/2 t salt
pepper
1 minced clove of garlic
1 T minced onion
3 T oil

place vinegar in bowl add,salt pepper,combine till salt is dissolved..add onions and garlic combine…add oil and whisk…add drained lentils mix and let chill for a few hours..

I like Mideastern lentil soup the best and this is the closest recipe I can find:

I use lentils instead of ground meat in chili, tacos, stuffed peppers, etc.

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