Lentil Recipes

Ok thanks to Food52 I have purchased the first bag of lentils in my life. I as far as I know I have only even eaten lentils once. Like a 10 year old I was not looking forward to them (lentil soup) and of course it was delicious. So now I have my very own bag of green French lentils in search of a recipe. Suggestions? A soup or salad seems to be the main contender. I am not interested in making lentil vegan versions of other food items.

caninechef
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10 Comments

sexyLAMBCHOPx September 8, 2017
Lentil and Sausage Soup for a Cold Winter's Night by AntoniaJames is delicious. The recipe is on the site.
 
creamtea September 6, 2017
Megedarra--a savory rice and lentil dish with fried onions. This is my version (I fry shallots in addition to onions both to garnish and add flavor. I also use French lentils because they don't get mushy). We serve with yogurt. https://food52.com/recipes/8477-sephardic-megedarra-with-garlicky-brown-rice-pilaf . The good thing about lentils is that they cook quickly: no soaking necessary!
 

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Stephanie G. September 6, 2017
Frances Moore Lappe's Monastery Lentils on this site is one of the best things you will ever put in your mouth! You must try it!
 
Abigail K. September 7, 2017
Came here to say the same! Such a flexible recipe that's greater than the sum of its parts. https://food52.com/recipes/35254-frances-moore-lappe-s-lentils-monastery-style
 
Nancy September 8, 2017
Nice to see her name (again) and this recipe...
 
Windischgirl September 8, 2017
That's the first recipe that came to my mind! I also love lentils stuffed into zucchini, https://food52.com/recipes/37479-moorish-stuffed-zucchini
 
Stephanie B. September 6, 2017
I've made this salad recipe and liked it: https://food52.com/recipes/69853-lentil-salad-with-roasted-radicchio-cauliflower
Lentils are go-to addition to lots of my fall salads: cubed/thinly sliced roasted winter squash or fresh apple, lentil, roasted nuts, and various greens, with or without a grain (farro is a favorite) to bulk it up as a full meal, served with any french-style vinaigrette. Sauteed shallots are a nice addition too, either to the salad itself or mixed into the vinaigrette.
I wouldn't write off the vegan and vegetarian versions of lentil foods though. They're often easy to un-vegan (I use real cream and cheese in my lentil bolognese), and taste great (see a lentil walnut gyros recipe on Food52 that tastes nothing like gyros but it's a delightful meal in its own right).
 
Nancy September 6, 2017
Megadara (many spellings).
Lentil and rice dish from the Middle East.
One fine version from the London restaurant Honey & Co uses tomatoes and cucumber to serve it as a salad. Or you can serve it hot, with sauteed onions and beef as a garnish. Recipe in the Financial Times newspaper and probably in one of their cookbooks.
Ottolenghi also has a good recipe.
 
Dona September 6, 2017
I love Patricia Wells Lentil Salad so much!
https://food52.com/recipes/20378-patricia-wells-green-lentil-salad
 
Valhalla September 6, 2017
The French ones hold their shape so make nice salads--I like crunchy celery in it.
One favorite soup is with ginger and lemon: http://savorynotebook.blogspot.com/2005/08/lemon-lentil-soup-with-spinach.html
I also love any soup recipe from Deborah Madison--she has a whole book of them, but most are probably found online: the one with sorrel cream and the chestnut/fennel one are both divine!
 
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