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Easy Lentil Soup And Other Lentil Recipes For Nutritious Meals

By Deborah Myers


High in all the B vitamins, and many minerals such as iron and more, lentils make a most nutritional part of a person's diet. Many consider it almost perfect, due to the nutritional it provides. In addition, it is very low-cost for those on a tight budget. Nutritionists believe it can hardly be beat. It is not just for an easy lentil soup, either. Lentils can be used in many ways.

With careful ingredient selection, one can feed a family of six to eight for under ten dollars. And, it is a meal that the whole family can enjoy. Just be sure to choose ingredients that are agreeable to every family member. This should be easy as the range of ingredients that can go with lentils make picking favorite ingredients possible.

One thing you can do with lentils is to make a variety of soups. Whether you prefer a spicy or cool soup, or smooth and creamy or chunky, you can have it with these. Even if you just want clear, then that is also possible. Just choose what you want and make it to your taste.

Lentils are not just for soup. They are excellent in many other dishes as well. They are not to be avoided. They are full of fiber, protein, and valuable nutrients, and when combined with other ingredients, a good substitute for meats. This makes them especially economical as a protein source, which is good when you are on a tight budget.

A good way to make lentils appealing to the whole family is in lentil bowls. Just combine them with whatever vegetables you wish, toss in a hefty serving, and add whatever dressing you prefer. You can vary the dressing to please every family member. Depending on the dressing, you can give the bowl an ethnic taste as well. Add an egg, goat cheese and potatoes to make it a breakfast bowl. Omit the egg and cheese if you want to make it vegan.

If Mexican is your choice, roast some cauliflower and add it with the lentils to flour tortillas, adding whatever ingredients you usually do, such as cheeses, olives, etc. Add a creamy chipotle sauce, made with Greek yogurt for extra health and nutrition, or other toppings such as a creamy avocado sauce for less heat but the same creaminess.

Lentils make a very beautiful salad as well. Add cooked lentils and fried Halloumi to a bowl of greens, such as spinach or arugula. This briny cheese made of goat and sheep milk is a wonderful, firm white cheese. Top with zucchini, sliced very thinly, and roasted heirloom tomatoes, sprinkle with a few micro-greens for a wonderfully healthy salad.

An excellent, hearty dish is a vegan shepherds pie. Spicy lentils, stir-fried mushrooms, and vegetables of your choice, either root vegetables or others, gives it a hearty feel. Top it with mashed sweet potatoes and a bread crumb topping for extra taste. It can be spiced and flavored to your taste. You can get creative and make many dishes. Experiment with choices of your own. If you don't like it, you haven't lost much because lentils are so inexpensive.




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