How to Cook Lentils

Lentils are lens-shaped seeds that are rich in protein and hence are perfect ingredient for a healthy food. Available in all seasons, these lentils can be cooked into a delectable item that is high on nutritional value as well as taste. Apart from cooking an exclusive lentil dish, you can also add it to various items like pastas, stews etc.

Here are some of the guidelines that will help you to cook lentil items easily and properly.

Steps

1. Take some lentils and wash them thoroughly with cold water. Ensure it is free from all unwanted particles that are often found in it. Now put them into a large sized cooking pot and add some water to it.
2. Ensure the pot you are using is some inches higher to the quantity of lentils. This is because while cooking, lentils will expand and occupy more space. Moreover, later you will also have to add some ingredients to the lentils. Hence, it always better to use a bigger size pot, with sufficient space within.
3. Now allow the lentils to boil. There is no fixed rule as to how much water one should use for boiling the lentils. This will depend on how thick or thin you want your lentils to be. However, it is always better to add 2 cups of water to every one cup of lentil.
4. While the lentils are getting cooked, you can go on to add some ingredients to it, to make it more delectable. If you want a typical Indian taste, then try out some Indian spices. You may select from wide variety of spices available in the market like cinnamon, ginger, turmeric powder and curry leaves. You may also go on to add some sambar masala and red chilies to make it spicier.
5. One of the easiest and scrumptious lentil recipes that you can try out at home is lentil fritters. For this, you are required to take some ounces of breadcrumbs, a braised onion, an egg and some salt and pepper. Now mix all the ingredients well and make small rolls out of the mixture. Deep fry the rolls in cooking oil. Fry till they acquire rich golden color and serve them with sauce.
6. For vegetarians, lentils can be used to prepare tasty and nutritional soups. Perfectly suitable for winters, you can add various vegetables to the lentil soup that are easily available in the winter season. You can go for some spinach, tomato, carrot and diced potatoes for the soup.

Tips

1. Lentils often contain small stones, dirt particles and even seed pods. It is very important that you clean and sort them out before cooking. It is also good if you re-hydrate the lentils.
2. Avoid adding larger amount of salt to the lentil while cooking because salt toughens the skin.

For all the health-conscious people, lentil is the ideal ingredient that you should include in your diet. Now that you know some of the ways of cooking lentil, just give a try to any of the lentil recipe and relish it with your family.

Watch a video instruction on how to cook lentils

See also

How to Cook Lentils

How to Cook Lentils

How to Cook Steak

How to Make Spanish Rice