Lentils1 are a kind of pulse that is highly nutritious. From the family of legumes, lentils are high in protein and low in fat. A delicious combo for a serving of great meals. These lean lentils go well with a variety of side dishes.
So, if you want to eat something tasty, nutritious, and rich in fibre, and don’t have time to prepare it, lentils are the ideal choice. They are very inexpensive compared to other vegetables, and anyone can afford them. If we pre-soak them, we can cook them quickly.
A perfect combination for a portion of tasty and yummy food. You can enjoy these protein-rich lentils with a variety of side dishes.
1. Types of Lentils
If you feel like Lentils are boring and have no taste in them, then you are wrong. Lentils are the type of pulse that can be prepared both in soupy form as well as in dry form. They come in various shapes; they can be round, oval, and half-pearl shaped. However, it depends upon their quality, as some lentils hold their shape even after being cooked, and some get dissolved.
So, the different types of Lentils are as follows:
1.01. Brown Lentils
Brown Lentils 2are one of the more popular lentils among others. They are commonly found and are perfect if you want to have soupy lentils. This type of lentil has that earthy smell and is highly fibrous.
They are lens-shaped and can be prepared quickly. This kind of lentils can be consumed if you are on a diet and want to lose weight. These are good for weight loss because they have low calories and high fibre.
1.02. Green Lentils
Just like its name, Green lentils3 are green in color and have thick skin. They take longer to cook, and they hold their shape after getting cooked. French Lentils, also known as Puy lentils (a type of green lentils), are also perfect for lentil salads but are more expensive than other lentils.
This kind of lentil provides more minerals, vitamins, and protein. It is more suitable with other side dishes and is perfect for a healthy lifestyle.
1.03. Red/Orange/Yellow Lentils
This kind of lentils is Red or Orange, sometimes even yellow. They split easily, and they are good for your heart. They are common in India and also have a mild, earthly smell.
This Red lentil4 also helps to build immunity and can give you very healthy skin, and this earthy lentil also minimizes damage to your tissues and cells. Overall, this kind of lentil is very nutritious and helps to keep your body immune.
1.04. Black Lentils
This kind of lentil has a stronger earthy smell and is called Beluga Lentils5. They look like black beans, but they are different. These lentils are not as popular as other lentils, but they are highly nutritious. They are small and dark-colored.
This kind of lentil is also healthy if you have a heart problem. It doesn’t get mushy and can hold its shape so that you can have this with other side dishes.
2. Get Ready to Prepare These Side Dishes And Enjoy Them With Lentils
Though Lentils are delicious and rich in iron and fibre and are highly nutritious on their own, they are worth more when eaten with other dishes. Lentils go well with almost everything, whether it be Meat, Fruits, or Vegetables. If you put the right amount of spices in this legume, you are good to go.
Lentils have variety, and you can eat them without any side dish as well. But if you want to take its full feel, prepare to cook other side dishes.
2.01. Naan Bread
Naan Bread or Naan is a soft, chewy, grilled flatbread made with wheat. They are thick and go well with lentils. They are baked in a Tandoor oven, and ghee is spread in it. Not only Naan but lentil soup can also go well with any kind of grilled flatbread.
Naan is an Indian cuisine that is prepared as a side dish; it has a soft and chewy texture. You can dip it in lentils and enjoy rich, delicious, nutritious food. It will be a solid and healthy main meal.
2.02. Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables are also highly nutritious and tasty. They are healthy and colourful. If you cook lentil soup and top it with these roasted Vegetables, you will have a great, delicious meal.
The combination of Roasted Vegetables and lentils topped with coriander is solid and full of flavours. This combination can be a great meal for vegetarians.
2.03. Meat
This is for meat lovers or non-vegetarians. Lentils can be paired well with meats like ground Beef, pork, lamb, and duck. You can enjoy your lentils along with meat chunks and have a blast of flavours by topping them with fresh herbs.
The juicy meat, along with the soupy lentils-powerpack duo. It can be served with any other side dish, like rice or bread. You can also have it by itself and get lost in flavours.
2.04. Rice
Rice gets paired well with lentils because both of them contain all the necessary and important diet. They are high in Vitamins, minerals, and fibers, too, and are low in fat. If you are hungry and have no time to prepare much food. Just prepare rice to eat with lentils and enjoy.
Rice and lentils are prepared in most cultures around the world. It could be with yellow, white, or brown rice. You will get both carbohydrates and protein, respectively. They can also be an extremely delicious meal when consumed together. It is also a very digestive food and will give you energy throughout the day.
2.05. Eggplant to eat with lentils
Eggplants are underrated when it comes to veggies. However, this purple vegetable can go well with pulses or lentils. Roast or grill your eggplant and enjoy it while dipping it in lentil soup. It can also be enjoyed if you prepare it as a curry by mixing both.
Another way to eat it together is by making lentil salad and spreading it on the grilled eggplant. There are many ways to have eggplant with lentils, and that’s the specialty of this veggie.
2.06. Lentil Baby Spinach Soup
If you are sick or want to have food rich in Protein, then prepare this curry soup. Prepare this meal in extra virgin olive oil, then enjoy your healthy food because this combination will make your bowl look full of vitamins and colourful.
You can also add tomato paste to it and prepare this food. The right number of spices will also do wonders in it. Get a fresh bunch of baby spinach and enjoy this delicious meal with any type of lentil you like.
2.07. Sweet Potatoes
Don’t miss the combo of red lentils and sweet potato. Prepare this dish with coconut oil and a lot of spices. You can also add some raw veggies and leave it to cook. This doesn’t take a lot of time and goes well with green salads, sandwiches, and warps. Don’t forget to add salt.
Enjoy this creamy lentil curry, especially in winter. You can also prepare it beforehand and preserve it for later. It is not going to go bad and will give you the same amount of richness.
2.08. Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins
Muffins made out of Jalapeno are also an excellent choice to eat with lentil soup. You will get a blast of flavours. The sweetness of sugar and honey, along with the spiciness and earthy smell of lentils and jalapeno, will be a treat to have.
Dip the Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins in thick lentil curry and enjoy your flavorful dish to its fullest.
2.09. Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower steak is a must-prepare side dish because it pairs well with lentils. If you want to skip meat or want a meat-free meal, you should try this with thick lentil soup.
For a better and savoury taste, try adding tomato puree or yogurt to the soup and have it with this Cauliflower Steak. You can even squeeze lemon juice over it. This is an excellent replacement for any kind of meat steak and one of the best plant-based meals.
3. Final Note
Lentils are rich in fibre, potassium, iron, and protein, and they get paired well with literally anything. Have it with bread and tortillas or rice. Even if you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you cannot ignore lentils because Lentil soups are tasty and full of spices. Get the correct number of herbs and add salt accordingly, and you are getting one of the best meals ever.
Enjoy it just like that, or prepare side dishes; it’s up to you. But no matter how you prepare it, it will taste great. Lentils are not boring but can make your boring dish interesting. Cook lentils with coconut milk, and you are good.
Cook it in the form of salad, soup, or balls, and you will get the same nutrients. Prepare it with any dish mentioned above and live a healthy and calorie-less life. Also, prefer buying dry lentils over canned ones because they work well if you suffer from any disease.
- Chelladurai, V., and C. Erkinbaev. “Lentils.” Pulses: Processing and product development (2020): 129-143. ↩︎
- Okumus, B. N., Tacer-Caba, Z., Kahraman, K., & Nilufer-Erdil, D. (2018). Resistant starch type V formation in brown lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) starch with different lipids/fatty acids. Food chemistry, 240, 550-558. ↩︎
- Amarowicz, Ryszard, et al. “Free radical-scavenging capacity, antioxidant activity, and phenolic composition of green lentil (Lens culinaris).” Food chemistry 121.3 (2010): 705-711. ↩︎
- Amarowicz, Ryszard, et al. “Antioxidant activity of a red lentil extract and its fractions.” International journal of molecular sciences 10.12 (2009): 5513-5527. ↩︎
- Lee, Syng-ook, et al. “Renal Protective Effect of Beluga Lentil Pretreatment for Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.” BioMed Research International 2021 (2021). ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi
