Lentils - what is it? You will get the answer to this question from the materials in this article. We will also tell you about how remarkable this product is and how it is used in cooking.
Product / Plant Overview
Lentils - what is it? This is a herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family.
This is one of the oldest crops. It is widely cultivated not only as a food, but also as a fodder plant. Occasionally, it can be found in the form of a weed.
Spread around the world
Lentils - what is it and where is it spread? The birthplace of this plant is Western Asia and Southern Europe. In these places it has been cultivated since the Neolithic era. The mention of the culture in question is found in the Old Testament, and its remains are found in the territory of prehistoric Switzerland and in the Egyptian pyramids.
In the wild, this plant grows in Central and Asia Minor, as well as in Southeast Europe.
Today, the largest cultivated areas of lentils are located in India, Turkey, Canada, Iran and Nepal. As for Central Europe, there it is bred in small numbers.
Use of the product / plant in practice
Lentils - what is and how to apply this culture in practice? For many peoples of Asia, the fruits of this plant are the most important source of protein, which in its nutritional properties can replace bread, cereals and even meat products.
The process of growing this crop is the same as that of peas. However, it should be noted that such a plant is more thermophilic. It quickly suffers from frost, but it is much easier to tolerate dry seasons.
Delicious dishes from lentils, or rather, from its fruits, are very popular not only in our country, but also in other states. Garnishes are made from such a product, soups are cooked, salads and even meatballs are prepared. It is especially popular among vegetarians.
It should also be noted that since ancient times, lentils have been valued as a very effective medicinal plant. It was used to treat nervous disorders and gastric diseases. Sorcerers used lentil infusion for smallpox. As for the liquid decoction, it helped to cope with constipation well. Also, this tool has been actively used in diseases of the liver and kidney stones.
Composition of the product
Lentil puree, as well as other dishes, are not very high-calorie and at the same time very nutritious. What is the reason for this? The fact is that such a product contains a huge amount of nutrients. Let's list them right now: proteins, tryptophan, carbohydrates, vitamin B12, fiber, calcium, vitamin B6, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, iron, fats, beta-carotene, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B1.
How is lentils used in cooking? Simple recipes
To prepare the product in question, you do not need much time. Moreover, from it you can make a very satisfying and tasty dish that will not leave indifferent any member of your family.
Let's look at how lentil puree is made together. For such a side dish we will need the following components:
- green or red lentils (to your taste) - 1 full glass;
- fresh and juicy carrots - 1 medium pcs .;
- olive oil (can be taken with a characteristic aroma) - 1 large spoon;
- processed hard cheese - 20 g;
- thyme - apply to your liking;
- ground black pepper - apply to your taste;
- sea salt - add at discretion.
Main product preparation process
How to cook delicious lentils? The recipe for mashed potatoes may include the use of both green and red bean product. It should be noted that such an ingredient is prepared in exactly the same way as regular peas.
Lentils are sorted, cleaned of delicate elements, and then laid out in a sieve and washed thoroughly first in hot and then in cold water.
As soon as all the dirt has left the product, it is placed in a deep bowl. After filling the lentils with plain water, they leave it in this form for 12 hours. This is necessary so that it swells well. Only in this case you will get a gentle and tasty mashed potatoes.
Plate heat treatment process
After the lentils infuse in water and swell, begin to cook it. To do this, put the product in a pan, and then fill it with water. The liquid should cover the lentils 2-3 cm. Also add slices of fresh carrots, thyme and a little salt to it. In this composition, the ingredients are brought to a boil and boiled for about half an hour (maybe longer). During this time, lentils and slices of carrots should be fully cooked.
The final stage in the preparation
After the described actions, remove all excess liquid from the pan (if it has not evaporated), and then cool a little. Next, an immersion blender is introduced into the dishes. Thanks to simple manipulations, the finished bean product must be completely crushed, forming a homogeneous and very tasty puree.
Having tasted the dish, it is additionally peppered and salted (if necessary). Next, add a little olive oil and finely grated cheese.
Serving dinner
Serve lentil puree to the table preferably hot. Poultry meat, beef goulash or some sausages are ideal for such a side dish. You can also serve cutlets or fried fish for mashed potatoes.
Cooking Lentil Salad
Lentils with chicken is an excellent combination that is used not only in the preparation of main and second courses, but also to create a light salad. To make it at home, it is recommended that the bean product be pre-germinated. How exactly to do this, we will describe further.
So, to make a salad with lentils, we need:
- fresh chicken fillet - 400 g;
- flavored crackers - 50 g;
- lettuce - 20 g;
- sprouted lentils - 30 g;
- lemon juice - 2 small spoons;
- olive oil, salt - to your liking.
We sprout bean product
Lentils with chicken in the form of salad are very easy to prepare. But it takes a lot of time.
To sprout a bean product, it is thoroughly washed in hot water, and then laid out in a not very deep bowl. Then it is poured with a small amount of water (so that it does not cover up). In this form, lentils are left at room temperature for 2 or 3 days. After a while, it should become as soft as possible and sprout. It is in this form that the product should be used to create a salad.
Processing major components
To prepare the snack in question, fresh chicken fillet is boiled in salt water. Then it is cooled and chopped in cubes. They also wash lettuce leaves separately and tear them in a chaotic manner.
The process of forming and serving
After processing all the ingredients, lay the chicken fillet in a deep bowl, where they add the torn lettuce, sprouted lentils and aromatic crackers. After mixing the components, they are sprayed with lemon juice and seasoned with natural olive oil.
It should be noted that it is only necessary to form such a salad before serving it to invited guests. This is done so that the crackers, which are part of the snack, do not get wet and do not spoil the whole dish.
If you want to get a more high-calorie dish, then you can refuel it not with olive or any other vegetable oil, but with sour cream or, for example, mayonnaise. However, in this case, the benefit of such an appetizer will be minimal.