I don’t know why I’m writing about lentils…but as I was cooking up a batch yesterday evening I thought it would be good to share why I love lentils so much. If you’ve read my other posts you know that I am a vegetarian but my family is not. This usually results in me cooking two separate dinners….one meaty, one non-meaty. Sometimes I have a real hard time coming up with new and exciting things to make for myself…but here’s where the lentils come in.
Lentils are versatile. You can put them in anything. they are also great meat imposters. In most recipes that call for ground beef, you can substitute cooked lentils and no one would ever be the wiser. I make a mean chili with lentils and I was able to successfully fool my son (who is a very picky eater) into thinking he was eating meat. Not to mention, lentils are very healthy for you; they are high in fiber and protein. I will usually cook up a batch of lentils and keep them in a Tupperware container in the fridge. that way, during the week I can add them to anything I am cooking in a pinch when I have nothing else to make myself.
Of course, on their own lentils make a great Greek-type salad. I’m going to make some this weekend and post the recipe, so keep your eyes out.
Here are some meal ideas in which you can use lentils in place of meat:
~Veggie Burgers
~Chili
~Tacos / Taco Salad
~Meat Sauce (for pasta)
~Lasagna
~”Hamburger” Helper
~Soup
Are there any favorite lentil ideas you would like to share? Let me know!
Lentils….they’re what’s for dinner.
Dockfam Adventures 
YUM! You’re making me hungry! Excellent post. You can also do “raw lentils.” Just soak them in filtered water overnight. They taste amazing. Toss the raw lentils on salads for protein 🙂
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I have never thought of that! I think I will try that. I love finding new things to add to salad and up the protein count. Thanks!
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I love lentils and never thought of making a dish ahead to add to meals. What a clever idea. My family, like yours, if divided on veggies. I love them and eat them at every meal (even breakfast). Then I have to beg, plead, and even HIDE them in food for my hubs and son to eat them. Love your ideas and very much look forward to your salad recipe.
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Thanks! My daughter will try any vegetable usually and ends up liking most of them. My son on the other hand, he only likes certain veggies cooked a certain way and most of the time it involves them being covered in cheese. My son is a carb-aholic so I try hard to incorporate new ways of serving the veggies at every meal hoping he gets at least some of it down!
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I love split pea soup with lentils! But to get kids to eat them you have to be innovative and hide them somehow in the recipe.
Thanks for following my blog! I’ll be following back and looking forward to your posts!
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If you have a recipe for that, I would love to try it. I’ve never attempted serving pea soup to the kiddos but I bet it’s really good!
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Being diabetic, this is a great thing from a protein and fiber perspective. Will be looking into this next trip to the grocery. Happy weekend. 🙂
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You too John….don’t forget to rinse dried lentils out real good in a strainer before you boil. It gets rid of any sediment from the beans so you aren’t boiling them in dirty water.
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Good idea sir, no need to further grind the teeth eh? 😉
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I really never thought to use lentils much….but going gluten free I think I’m going to start…..I will be looking forward to your recipes….thanks!
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Lentils are easily forgotten 😦 but oooooh so good. Let me know what you think, you might even come up with a few of your own after a while!
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Thanks for popping by my site and saying such nice things. Going to enjoy following your blog, although I don’t see me convincing my husband that lentils are any substitute for meat!
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Awe, he’ll never know. Try the chili…seriously. You can even mash them up a bit, makes it more believable! 🙂 Good Luck!
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Lentils rock! I’ll be back for your Greek salad recipe. Thanks for stopping by foodforfun:-)
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Great! I’m going to make it tonight, it always tastes better the next day after the flavors get a chance to mix together.
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I’ve only had lentels in a soup. I think I will try out some of your other ideas.
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Me too at first. Progresso makes a lentil soup I absolutely love!
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My husband will eat ANYTHING and is a real foodie, but our kids (ages 19 and 17) are the biggest pains ever when it comes to feeding them. My friend also lives with us and she’s ultra picky as well. I’d have to really, really, reallllllly hide stuff in food for them to eat them. I bet the chili lentils are amazing.
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I put cheese on mine and eat it with crackers. Mmmm!
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