In the Arab world, lentils are the protagonist of several dishes. In vegetarian cooking, legumes are a source of protein.
In the new year, lentils become an amulet of good luck and prosperity.
There is versatility for such a tiny grain!
And for the legume to be tasty and nutritious it is essential to know how to cook the lentils properly.
Only so you can enjoy all the flavor, texture, nutrients and, who knows, even the good energies of this legume.
Let’s check it out?
Lentil characteristics and curiosities 
Lentils are a type of legume belonging to the same group as beans and peas.
Originally from Asia, lentils became popular in the Middle East and from there they continued on to Africa, the Americas and Europe.
Archaeological studies indicate that lentils have been consumed by mankind for approximately 13,000 years.
The habit of consuming lentils on New Year’s Eve is especially common in Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Chile and Venezuela
It is believed that the flat, circular shape of the grain has a similarity to coins, which, in this case, would end up becoming synonymous with good luck and financial prosperity.
Lentils also appear in Christian stories told by the Bible. According to the book of Genesis, Jacob offered Esaú a plate of lentils in exchange for the rights to become a firstborn.
The Bible also says that Samah, one of King David’s warriors, defended a lentil field alone against the Philistines’ attack.
Types of lentils and main uses
There are three types of lentils consumed around the world: green, black and orange (or reddish).
Know a little more about each of these lentils.
Green lentil
The green lentil, slightly gray, is the most common to be found, mainly in Brazil.
This is the lentil that has the largest grain. This makes it a little longer to cook than other lentils.
Green lentils do not lose their shape or texture after cooking, which is why they are suitable for preparing salads or added to rice, for example.
Green lentils are also widely used to make vegetarian hamburgers.
Black lentil
Uncommon here, black lentils are also known as beluga lentils, because they resemble the appearance of caviar.
The black lentil is the most nutritious of all and has a slightly earthy flavor and a very firm texture.
Orange lentil (reddish)
Orange lentils are widely used in the preparation of soups, broths and purees. This is because this type of lentil has very small grains and as a result they soften and lose shape with cooking.
Just to give you an idea, while the green lentil takes up to 45 minutes to cook, the orange lentil reaches the cooking point in less than 15 minutes.
Widely consumed in India, orange lentils combine very well with curry, cumin and spicy spices.
Lentil benefits
Lentil is a super nutritious food that can and should be inserted in the daily diet.
Rich in B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, in addition to vitamins A and D, lentils are also a source of important minerals such as potassium, iron, magnesium and calcium.
And just for comparison: a portion of lentils offers about 9 grams of protein, while beans, for example, in the same proportion, offers about 5.4 grams of protein.
These nutritional properties of the lentil explain why it ended up being favored by vegans and vegetarians.
Pregnant women also benefit from the consumption of lentils, especially because of the iron present in the legumes.
It is even worth combining lentil consumption with foods rich in vitamin C, so you increase the absorption of iron present in the grains.
Lentils also stand out for their large amount of fibers. What makes it an excellent ally for those who want to lose weight, in addition, of course, to benefit the intestine and favor the reduction of cholesterol rates.
How to cook lentils
Lentils are very easy to prepare and, unlike other harder legumes, such as beans and chickpeas, do not need to be soaked.
Unless you want to eliminate possible intestinal discomfort commonly caused by legumes. Otherwise, just place the lentil directly in the pan.
Lentils are bought dry and therefore absorb water during the cooking process. This causes the grains to double in volume.
So, if you want two cups of cooked lentils, just fire a cup of raw lentils.
Another important tip: before placing the lentil in the pan, make the selection of the beans.
It may be that along with the lentils also come small grains of earth, pebbles or even damaged lentils that must be removed.
To do this, line a dish towel on the table or the sink, pour the raw lentils and make this selection.
How to cook lentils in the common pan
The simplest and easiest way to cook lentils is in the common pan. To do this, select the grains, wash them in a colander or colander and then place them in the pan.
Cover them with water. The ideal measure is four parts of water for each part of lentil, in other words, to each cup of lentil add four cups of water.
It is not necessary to add salt during the cooking process. Place only at the end to ensure the texture of the lentil.
Bring the pan to the heat and as soon as it starts boiling, reduce the flame, cooking the lentils over low heat and with the pan uncapped.
Count about 45 minutes to complete the cooking process for green lentils.
Red lentils take less time to cook, about twelve minutes. Make sure the beans are soft.
Let the lentils stand for another ten minutes in the hot water so that they absorb a little more water. This is when you must add salt.
Then drain the water and continue with your recipe. If the intention is to make a soup or broth, use the cooking water itself.
How to cook lentils in the pressure cooker
The process of cooking lentils in the pressure cooker is the same as in the ordinary cooker.
The difference is only in the cooking time, since the pressure cooker cooks food much faster.
In this case, place the lentils in the pan, cover with water and close the pan. When the pressure starts, count about 15 minutes and hang up.
Wait for the pressure to come out completely, open the pan and check if the beans are soft.
A tip: lentils tend to loosen the shell during the cooking process and these shells can cause the pressure cooker valve to clog.
Therefore, the tip is to cook a little lentil, this way you prevent the water from boiling too high and reach the valve.
How to cook lentils in the crockpot
In the absence of a stove and pan, know that you can also cook lentils in the electric pan, the same one used to make rice.
Place the lentils in the pan and cover with the recommended amount of water, but be careful not to exceed the maximum limit of the pan.
Plug the pot into the outlet and select the “cooking” mode. The preparation time is a little longer, reaching an hour and a half, two hours, depending on the grain.
How to cook lentil for salad
To make lentil salad it is important that the beans are cooked, but firm so that they do not fall apart.
So it will be necessary to check the texture of the lentils from time to time.
The ideal is to cook the lentils in the common pan so that you can make this control. This is not possible in the pressure cooker.
When you notice that the beans are firm and cooked, drain the water and season the salad. Do not wait for the lentils to cool, as the beans absorb the seasoning better while they are still hot.
Extra tips for cooking lentils
- Instead of water you can cook lentils with broth or vegetable broth, preferably homemade.
- Add more flavor to the lentils by adding bay leaves during cooking.
- If desired, also add herbs, spices and other condiments. Some good options are rosemary, garlic, onion and curry, especially if you want a more spicy Indian style flavor.
- Newer lentil beans cook faster than older ones. So don’t mix the beans you have in the pan. Finish with the older ones first before using the ones you just bought, so there will be no difference in cooking time.
How to store lentils
Lentils can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days. But you can also choose to cook more lentils and freeze them later. To do this, make portions in jars suitable for the freezer.
So, when you hit that urge to eat lentils, just defrost and go!
