Most housewives underestimate all the advantages of such a product as lentils. For many, this cereal is quite unusual, therefore, it appears extremely rarely on Russian tables.
This bean culture is very healthy and tasty. In addition, it is very simple and quick to prepare. Unlike beans or peas, it does not need to be soaked.
The article will provide several recipes for lentils with chicken with a photo.
Lentil calories
This culture can rightfully be considered a dietary product. 100 grams of lentils contain 25 grams of protein, 55 grams of carbohydrates and only 1 gram of fat.
Each variety of this bean plant has its own calorie content - from 270 to 310 kcal per 100 grams of dry product. Boiled lentils have a lower calorie content - 115 kcal per 100 grams of product.
If for medical reasons you are forbidden to eat meat, then you can get protein from lentils. Moreover, vegetable protein is much better absorbed than animal meat. A small portion of this product will saturate you for a long time.
Types of Lentils
Currently, there are 5 main types of lentils. All of them have a similar taste, which remotely resembles a nut. Varieties of lentils differ in color, appearance, useful properties and degree of maturity. Let's look at what we can use for cooking chicken dishes:
- Green lentils are not quite ripe. When cooking, retains its shape. Often it is used to prepare various snacks, salads or as a side dish for meat. This species is useful for hypertension, gastric ulcer and hepatitis.
- Red lentils - has an unusual piquant taste. Most often it is used for making mashed potatoes and soups. It boils quickly and does not retain its original shape. This species is useful for anemia, as it contains a lot of iron.
- Brown lentils - has a bright specific taste. Most often it is used for cooking casseroles and soups. Brown lentils are useful for lung diseases.
- French lentils, or pui. It has a spicy taste. It is used as a side dish for meat. After cooking, it retains its original appearance.
- Black lentils are the smallest variety of this product. Another name for cereals is “beluga”. The grain size does not exceed 3 millimeters.
What can I cook
There are many recipes where the main ingredient is lentils. It is part of soups, hot main dishes and salads.
This article will focus on recipes for lentils with chicken. All are simple in composition and method of preparation. It is important not to forget to sort out the lentils before cooking, as it often comes across small pebbles. In addition, it is advisable to boil it for 1 minute, then drain the water. This is to make the product more easily perceived by the stomach.
Chicken Lentil Soup Recipe
Ready soup will have a consistency of mashed potatoes. To prepare it, you will need:
- Red lentils - 180 grams.
- Chicken legs - 300 grams.
- Chicken fillet - 100 grams.
- Potato - one tuber.
- Carrots are one thing.
- Onion - one head.
- Tomatoes or tomato paste - 50 grams.
- Lemon juice - 10 ml.
- Mint - 4 grams.
- Basil - 2 grams.
- Vegetable oil - 15 ml.
- Salt - 10 grams.
Stages of preparation:
- Rinse the chicken well, put in a saucepan, fill with water and set to boil. Please note that chicken is required. In the process of preparing the broth, remove foam from its surface so that the broth is clean.
- Rinse the lentils well with cold water and prepare as described above.
- Peel, rinse and chop the potatoes into small cubes.
- Peel the onion, wash and chop finely.
- Peel the carrots, wash and grate on a coarse grater.
- Wash the tomatoes and cut them into small pieces. It is advisable to peel them. To do this, pour tomatoes with boiling water, then immerse in cold water.
- Pass the onions for three minutes in a thick-bottomed pan. It should become transparent.
- Put the carrots in the pan and simmer another 2 minutes. Make sure that the fry is not burnt.
- Add red lentils to the pan and fry it, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
- Next, put chopped tomatoes in a pan. If there is no fresh, put 2 tablespoons of tomato paste in a pan. Pass 4 minutes.
- Put the tomatoes over the steamed beans. In winter, they can be replaced with tomato paste. Pass for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan.
- Transfer the contents of the pan to the broth. Add potatoes to the pan. Salt the broth. Reduce heat to low and cook for 40 minutes.
- Cut the boiled chicken into small pieces. Salt, pour lemon juice (5 ml), sprinkle with mint and basil.
- In a hot frying pan without oil, fry the fillet until golden brown.
- Put the chicken in the pan.
- Beat the contents of the pan in a blender until smooth.
- Add the rest of the lemon juice to the puree.
- Put on fire and wait for boiling.
- Turn off the heat and let it brew for 20 minutes.
With a bird in a slow cooker
This recipe for lentils with chicken in a slow cooker is quite simple. To prepare the dish you will need:
- Brown lentils - 180 grams.
- Onion - one head.
- Chicken fillet - 400 grams.
- Sweet yellow pepper - 100 grams.
- Salt - 8 grams.
- Tomatoes - 80 grams.
- Vegetable oil - 15 ml.
Cooking process
Cooking a meal is easy:
- Peel and rinse onions and peppers. Cut the onion into small cubes, and chop the pepper into strips.
- Wash the tomato and cut into pieces.
- Wash the chicken fillet and cut into cubes.
- Pour the vegetable oil into the multicooker bowl. Turn on the "Frying" mode and fry the onions for 10 minutes.
- Then add the chicken and fry for another 15 minutes.
- Put the “Pilaf” mode on the multicooker.
- Put the prepared lentils, tomatoes, salt and pepper into the multicooker bowl. Pour in 2 cups of water.
- Cook for 40 minutes (until the end of the regime). Stir the contents of the multicooker every 8-10 minutes.
Soup with red lentils and chicken. Recipe
To make the soup you will need:
- Chicken - one carcass weighing about a kilogram.
- Carrots - 2 pieces.
- Onion - two heads.
- Vegetable oil - 20 ml.
- Parsley root is one piece.
- Red lentils - 200 grams.
- Potato - 500 grams.
- Salt - 12 grams.
- Sour cream (for serving) - 20 grams.
Stages of preparation:
- Rinse and chop the chicken.
- Place the meat in a pan and pour cold water. Cook over medium heat. Remember to periodically remove the foam. Add parsley root, peeled onion and carrots to the broth. These three ingredients must be discarded when the broth is ready.
- Prepare lentils.
- Peel and wash the onions and carrots. Grate root vegetables on a coarse grater.
- Peel, wash and cut the potatoes into cubes.
- Fry onions and carrots in vegetable oil.
- Remove the chicken from the prepared broth and set it aside to cool.
- Put red lentils, onions, carrots and potatoes in the broth. Cook the soup for about 15 minutes. At the end of cooking, salt it.
- Cut the chicken into small pieces. Add the chicken pieces to the prepared soup.
Red lentil and chicken soup can be served immediately, seasoned with sour cream.
Green Lentils with Chicken and Mushrooms
The recipe for green lentils with chicken and mushrooms does not require special cooking skills - it is quite simple. To prepare the dish you will need:
- Fresh champignons - 10 pieces.
- Chicken fillet - 250 grams.
- Green lentils - 180 grams.
- Butter - 15 grams.
- Cream - 120 ml.
- Rosemary - 4 grams.
- Soy sauce - 15 grams.
- Ground black pepper - 4 grams.
- Parsley - 15 grams.
- Wheat flour - 8 grams.
Cooking process:
- Rinse the lentils well and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. The ratio of water to lentils is 1: 2.
- Divide the cream into two parts. In one, add wheat flour and mix until smooth.
- Wash the champignons, dry and chop finely (as shown in the photo).
- Preheat the pan and melt half the butter on it. Put chopped mushrooms in the pan. Fry the champignons until the excess liquid evaporates from them.
- Rinse and chop the chicken into small cubes. Fry the pieces of poultry in butter in a separate pan.
- Once the chicken becomes rosy, transfer it to a mushroom pan. Pour the ingredients with the remaining half the cream (without flour), add rosemary, soy sauce and black pepper. Simmer the contents of the pan under the lid for about 10 minutes.
- Pour the cream with flour into the pan and stir until the mass is thick. Then immediately turn off the stove.
- Transfer the finished lentils to a plate and pour the resulting sauce of cream, mushrooms and chicken. Garnish the dish with parsley.
Finally
Do not bypass a product such as lentils. It is not only healthy, but also very tasty. Do not hesitate, your household will be delighted with this dish. And you will be surprised how easy it is to cook lentils with chicken according to recipes.