Lentils differ from other legumes not only in appearance, but also in taste.
Dishes from this product can be consumed for lunch, dinner and even breakfast.
Here are collected the most interesting and, importantly, proven recipes of lentils with vegetables from experienced housewives.
Lentils with vegetables - general principles of preparation
Unlike other legumes, lentils cook much faster and do not require pre-soaking, unless this is stated in the recipe. Usually, 45 minutes is enough to prepare the product, but if crushed beans are used, then 20 is enough. But in many ways the cooking time depends on the type.
Which lentils are suitable for cereals:
• green;
• brown;
• black.
Which lentils are best for soups and stews:
• red;
• yellow;
• orange.
Not every store has a selection of lentils, so you can use the one available for cooking. Most often it is yellow and orange. Before cooking lentils with vegetables, it should be washed for a minute under running water. It is better to lay in boiling liquid. Depending on the recipe, the broth will need to be drained or cooked further on the basis of it.
Absolutely any vegetables are perfectly combined with this type of beans. They can be fresh, canned, frozen. Ready mixes can be used. When creating dishes, it is not necessary to chop vegetables large, it is better to do this in small cubes.
In lentils with vegetables, if desired, you can add mushrooms, meat and fish products. It combines with them wonderfully, it becomes even more satisfying and nutritious. And, of course, do not forget about herbs and spices, which are not only useful, but also add a dish of taste and aromatic notes.
Recipe 1: Braised Lentils with Vegetables
A simple recipe for lentils with vegetables. The dish can be used alone or as a side dish for meat or fish. It is cooked on a stove in a deep frying pan or in a casserole. The whole process takes about 50 minutes on average.
Required ingredients
• a glass of lentils;
• one onion;
• one carrot;
• one sweet pepper;
• 3 large tomatoes or 2-3 tablespoons of pasta;
• salt pepper;
• cooking oil;
• 2 cloves of garlic.
Cooking method
1. Wash the lentils, boil until cooked in a large amount of water (about half an hour). It should become soft enough, but not cooked. Then you need to drain the broth.
2. Peel onions, carrots, peppers. Cut everything into small cubes, carrots can just be grated. Fry the onions in a pan, add carrots and peppers.
3. Peel the tomatoes, chop and send to the vegetables. You can just cut the fruit in half and grate on a coarse grater, leaving the skin. If tomato paste is used, then dilute it with 100 ml of water.
4. Pour lentils to vegetables with tomato, add peeled and chopped garlic, salt, pepper and stew under the lid over low heat for 10 minutes.
Recipe 2: Lentil Salad with Vegetables
An original recipe for a very hearty lentil salad with vegetables, which can be used instead of lunch or dinner. Cucumber and bell pepper give the dish a fresh taste. And so that they do not allocate a lot of juice, it is better to season the salad and salt just before drinking.
Required ingredients
• lentils 0.1 kg;
• 1 cucumber;
• 1 sweet pepper;
• parsley;
• onion;
• vinegar, sugar, salt.
For sauce, 2 tbsp. l lemon juice, soy sauce and olive oil.
Cooking method
1. Rinse the lentils, then boil until soft. At the end of cooking, add salt to the water. Fold in a colander to cool and drain excess fluid.
2. Peel the onion, cut into cubes. In 100 ml of water add a teaspoon of sugar, the same amount of vinegar, mix everything, pour onion and set aside to pickle.
3. Cucumber cut into cubes, if the peel is hard or bitter, then peel.
4. At the Bulgarian pepper remove the core, also cut into cubes and send it to the cucumber.
5. Cool the lentils to the vegetables, add the onion squeezed from the marinade.
6. Season the salad with a mixture of lemon juice, oil and soy sauce. If necessary, you can add a little more salt. Sprinkle thickly with chopped parsley on top.
Recipe 3: Lentils with Vegetables and Mushrooms
This dish is incredibly satisfying and nutritious. For cooking lentils with vegetables, you can use any mushrooms: fresh, frozen, boiled and even pickled. But if salted ones are used, then they need to be washed well from excess salt and decanted water.
Required ingredients
• lentils 200 gr.;
• 0.3 kg of mushrooms;
• 2 onions;
• 50 ml of oil;
• salt, spices.
Cooking method
1. Rinse the lentils, boil until almost ready, drain the water.
2. Peel the onion, cut into small cubes. Pour oil into the pan, put on the stove, pour the chopped onion. Pass a few minutes.
3. Cut the mushrooms into slices and send to fry to the onion. Cook together for 5-10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle lentils, season with salt, add spices, cover and then simmer over minimal heat for 10-15 minutes to combine the taste and aroma of the products.
Recipe 4: Lentils with Vegetables, Curry and Zira
The whole charm of this dish is from lentils and vegetables in an unusual aroma that is attached to spicy spices. This meal is prepared quite simply, consists of available ingredients, tastes best from green lentils.
Required ingredients
• 0.2 kg of lentils;
• 2 onions;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• 1 bell pepper;
• 1 tsp curry / turmeric;
• 0.5 tsp zirs;
• a bunch of cilantro or parsley;
• salt, frying oil.
Cooking method
1. Boil the lentils until cooked, drop them into a colander to drain the liquid.
2. Put a frying pan on the stove, pour a little oil, add cumin seeds. After half a minute, send onions chopped into small cubes.
3. Pepper also cut into small cubes, send to the onion, add curry, chopped garlic, salt and pour the lentils. Fry everything together for 2-3 minutes and can be served.
If someone likes more juicy mass, then pour 0.5 cups of water or broth, stew for 5 minutes under the lid. Season the finished dish with fresh herbs.
Recipe 5: Lentils with vegetables "Russian motifs"
To prepare lentils with vegetables according to this recipe you will need clay pots. You can use one large or portioned dishes for each person. The main vegetable is zucchini, but instead, you can also use pumpkin, eggplant or a mixture of them.
Required ingredients
• a glass of lentils;
• 1 zucchini;
• carrot;
• onion;
• 0.2 kg of sour cream;
• salt, oil.
Cooking method
1. Boil the lentils until tender, drain the liquid.
2. Fry the chopped onions with carrots in a pan in vegetable oil, add the chopped zucchini and cook together for 5 minutes.
3. Mix lentils with vegetables, salt, add any spices if desired. Arrange in pots.
4. Top with sour cream. If there is only one pot, put it completely. If several, then divide equally. Send the pots to the oven for 20-25 minutes.
It turns out very tasty if you add a little meat, mushrooms, sausages or smoked meats to the pots.
Recipe 6: Lentils with vegetables in pita bread
A super tasty and healthy dish that you can take with you to work, study or anywhere else. Great snack, hearty and inexpensive. All products are taken in arbitrary quantities.
Required ingredients
• boiled lentils;
• fresh tomato;
• Bulgarian pepper;
• processed cheese;
• salt;
• sour cream;
• thin pita bread;
• greenery.
Cooking method
1. Dice the tomato, if it is watery, then remove the seeds. Pepper is also finely chopped, after removing the insides.
2. Grate the cheese and send to the tomatoes and pepper. So that the process of rubbing the cheese does not cause difficulties, the product must be kept in the freezer for half an hour.
3. Add lentils, chopped herbs, salt, season with sour cream. Similarly, you can use mayonnaise or any other sauce.
4. Pita bread cut in half. Put a filling on each piece and wrap it with a roll, bending the edges first. You get 2 large “shawarma” from lentils with vegetables, cheese and herbs.
Recipe 7: Lentils with Vegetables in Tomato Juice
A lentil dish with vegetables prepared according to this recipe has a rich tomato flavor. It is better to use natural juice from tomatoes, but if this is not, then tomato paste packaged or diluted with water is suitable.
Required ingredients
• 2 cups of boiled lentils;
• 1 carrot;
• 1 onion;
• 2 eggplants;
• 1 liter of tomato juice;
• spices, herbs;
• salt, oil for frying.
Cooking method
1. Peel and chop the onions and carrots in a pan in oil.
2. Cut eggplant into cubes. If they are bitter, then add salted water and let stand for 15 minutes. Then squeeze and quickly fry in a pan until crusty.
3. Combine the vegetables, boiled lentils, salt, add spices, pour tomato juice and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with herbs.
Recipe 8: Peppers Stuffed with Lentils with Vegetables
Lentils with vegetables can be used as a filling for stuffing bell peppers. It is much more useful than the usual white rice and at the same time does not lose in taste. A great way to diversify the usual dishes for everyone. Products are taken in arbitrary quantities.
Required ingredients
• boiled lentils;
• bow;
• carrot;
• tomato paste;
• pepper for filling;
• salt, oil, pepper.
Cooking method
1. Peel the onions and carrots, chop, lightly fry in vegetable oil.
2. Mix the lentils with half the fried vegetables, season with salt and pepper.
3. Gently remove the seeds from the peppers by making a circular cut around the stem. Stuff the prepared peppers with minced lentil with vegetables.
4. Fold in a saucepan, add tomato paste, the second half of the fried vegetables, pour boiling water, salt and put on the stove. Cook for 15-20 minutes after boiling.
You can add minced meat, boiled or fried pieces of meat, sausage or mushrooms to the filling of lentils with vegetables. You can also use any spices, including hot Korean.
Recipe 9: Lentil Cutlets with Vegetables
It turns out that cooking meatballs does not necessarily have meat. From lentils with vegetables, they are no less tasty and nutritious. Cutlets can be fried in a pan or baked in the oven, served with any side dishes and just with fresh salads.
Required ingredients
• a glass of lentils;
• onion;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• salt, spices;
• 2 eggs;
• butter and breadcrumbs.
Cooking method
1. Pour the washed lentils with 2 cups boiling water and cook over low heat until cooked. The liquid must be completely absorbed. Ceil the mass, cool to room temperature.
2. Add the chopped onion or chopped onion, chopped garlic, eggs, salt, spices. Mix the mass thoroughly with your hands.
3. Form cutlets from lentil minced meat, roll in breadcrumbs and fry in a pan in oil. Or put in a greased form and bake in the oven.
Such cutlets can be cooked in the oven immediately with gravy. To do this, mix 2 tablespoons of sour cream with a spoon of tomato paste, add salt, spices, pour a glass of water. Pour the formed and laid out patties into the sauce and bake for 15 minutes.
Lentils with Vegetables - Tips and Tricks
• Lentils will be tastier and more tender if you add a little vegetable or butter to the water when boiling.
• If the lentils remain stiff for a long time, then you can add a little baking soda to the pan, literally on the tip of the knife. The next time it is better to soak this cereal in advance.
• You can add any greens and in large quantities to lentils with vegetables. From this, the taste of the dish only benefits.
• Salt puree or porridge from lentils at the end of cooking, so it will boil faster. If the boiled product is used as an ingredient in salads or other dishes, then you can salt it directly.
