If you do not know how to cook lentils, then it's time to learn. It is not difficult to do this, if you follow some rules.

How to cook lentils for garnish

Before cooking, lentils should be thoroughly washed under cold water and remove debris from it. Soak unlike other legumes it does not need. Salt is recommended at the very end. If you do not want digestion problems, then put the lentils in a pan in boiling water.

How much time to cook?

 

It always takes a different time to cook a meal. In order to decide how much to cook lentils without soaking, you need to determine the grade. So, for example, you will have to spend only 10 minutes on the red version, 30 on the green variety, and the brown one will be ready only after 40 minutes. Sometimes it is recommended to soak this variety, but it is worth doing it only if you want to reduce the cooking time.

Cooking ratio of lentils to water

 

The ideal proportion for cooking is 1: 2, as for most cereals. That is, for one glass of dry lentils you will need two glasses of water and so on: for two glasses of lentils - already four servings of water. It is advisable to strictly observe this, otherwise the result will not be what you expect: the grains will be hard or vice versa too boiled.

Ingredients:

  • Lentils - one glass;
  • Onion and carrot;
  • Salt to taste;
  • A little vegetable oil;
  • Two glasses of water.

Cooking process:

  1. Start by flushing lentils. Do it carefully.
  2. Next, put water on a fire and bring to a boil. Now you need to salt the future dish and add lentils to the dishes.
  3. Bring to readiness. While cooking, prepare onions and carrots - fry chopped vegetables with a small amount of vegetable oil.
  4. Drain the water from the lentils and put them in the vegetables, mix everything. Now you know how to cook lentils for a side dish.

How to cook lentils in a slow cooker

Cooking in a slow cooker is always faster and easier, especially when it comes to lentils. As a result, the grains are soft and tasty.

Required Products:

  • A glass of lentils, preferably green;
  • Water in proportion - 2 glasses;
  • One carrot and bulb;
  • Salt and other seasonings at your discretion.

How to cook:

  1. Prepare vegetables using a slow cooker. Grind them and fry in the mode: "frying".
  2. Next, pour the washed lentils to the vegetables and pour hot water. Add selected spices.
  3. Turn on the stew mode and cook the dish for about 30 minutes. Salt the culture only five minutes before the end of cooking.

For a brighter taste, you can add adjika.

Features cooking red, black, green and yellow lentils

 

If you want a delicious porridge from lentils, then for this it is best to buy green or brown lentils. Then it does not fall apart and it turns out in the form of grains. For soup and stew, a red or orange variety is perfect.

When preparing a dish of red lentils, some advise adding salt and spices at the beginning, and not at the end, as is customary with other varieties. The best seasonings are red pepper, curry, caraway seeds.

Black lentils are ideal for salads with pepper, oil and spicy spices.

Do not mix different varieties with each other, as the cooking time and result are different.

How to cook porridge from lentils?

Lentil porridge is a good, hearty dish, both for breakfast and for lunch. With all products available, cooking is simple.

Ingredients:

  • Lentil groats of a suitable variety;
  • Water in proportion;
  • Carrots and onions - one each;
  • Salt and other seasonings;
  • Clove of garlic;
  • Some olive oil.

Cooking process:

  1. To start making porridge, of course, with the preparation of cereals. To do this, it must be thoroughly washed under cold water, and it is better to do this several times. To keep it clean and free of debris.
  2. Next, prepare the pan, place the lentils in it and fill it with water. The amount of water is determined based on how much cereal you have taken. For one glass of dry product - two glasses of liquid.
  3. Wait for the boil and make the fire a little less.
  4. While the cereal is boiled, you need to prepare the vegetables. This is done simply: chop them and fry a little in a pan, adding literally one teaspoon of olive oil.
  5. Pour the cooked vegetables to porridge, reduce the heat to almost a minimum level.
  6. Now you can salt and mix.
  7. It takes an average of 30 minutes to cook a dish, but the exact time depends on the variety you have taken. Grains must be boiled.
  8. When everything is almost ready, squeeze the garlic there and pepper.

Mashed potatoes recipe

Lentil puree is an excellent variant of a hearty dinner with an interesting taste. For cooking, the red variety is best, you can take the green one, but then the cooking time will be a little longer.

For the dish you will need:

  • Red grade lentils - approximately 70 grams;
  • Onions and carrots - 1 each;
  • Greens to taste;
  • Water - about 200 ml;
  • Salt
  • Butter - 15 grams.

Cooking process:

  1. You need to start cooking mashed potatoes with the preparation of vegetables - chop them.
  2. Carefully approach the choice of dishes for this dish. Something with a thick bottom is best.
  3. Place the selected container on the stove and put oil in it. Wait until it melts, and then add vegetables there. Sauté them lightly over low heat.
  4. Add washed and peeled lentils to the rest of the ingredients, mix everything.
  5. Now pour in the water, wait until everything boils and salt. All that remains is to wait until the dish is cooked. This will take about 20 minutes.
  6. Using a blender and a crush, turn the porridge into mashed potatoes, transfer to a saucepan again and bring to a boil. After that, the dish can be served at the table.

Soup Recipe

Lentil soup is a spicy dish with such an unusual taste for us, because this culture is rarely on our table.

Required Products:

  • Red lentils - one glass;
  • Salt, herbs, pepper - to your taste;
  • One onion and carrot;
  • Several potatoes;
  • Vegetable oil - three tablespoons;
  • Water or finished broth - about 2.5 liters.

How to cook:

  1. No matter what you cook on - broth or water, it will have to be brought to a boil. The pan must be at least three liters.
  2. While the hearth is boiling, prepare the lentils - rinse it so that the water is clean and there is no debris.
  3. Set aside a crop and get vegetables. Finely chop them, and cut the potatoes into small pieces.
  4. Add oil to a hot skillet, and then prepared vegetables, except for potatoes. Bring them to a golden color. This usually takes no more than three minutes.
  5. When the water boils, put potatoes, cereals and fried vegetables in a pan. Bring it all to a boil again. Please note that you need to remove the foam, and the fire must be very small, otherwise the croup will not have time to prepare, and the water will run out.
  6. You need to cook until lentils and potatoes are ready. Average time is 20 minutes.
  7. When the dish is almost ready, you can add spices and salt. Also, do not forget to cut the greens, for a bright taste and aroma. You can add olives and squeeze a little lemon juice.

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