How To Cook Lentils

Learn how to cook lentils and make healthy soup or stews for lunch or dinner. Lentils are small, dried, light brown legumes that have a light nutty flavor. Best known for making hearty soup, lentils are a great source of protein. Have a meatless dinner tonight and serve lentil soup.

To cook lentils, you will need:

• Lentils
• Water
• Large pot

1. Prepare lentils for cooking. Lentils are a natural food source which means twigs, leaves, or small pebbles could be found in a package of lentils. Pick through the lentils by hand and remove any foreign objects and wash the lentils in a colander with clear water.
2. Cook the lentils. To cook lentils, measure 1 ½ cups of water per each cup of dried lentils. Combine water and lentils in a large pot with a tight lid.
3. Bring the water to a boil over a high heat and boil the lentils for three minutes.
4. Lower the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook for 45 minutes. A simmer means there are tiny boiling bubbles around the outer rim inside the pot.
5. Stir the cooking lentils every five minutes. Check for the tenderness of the lentils after 30 minutes of cooking.
6. When the lentils are cooked, remove from the heat, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Tips:

Add more flavor to lentil soup by using chicken broth instead of water and adding a chopped slice of bacon and a small chopped onion. Don’t forget to add your favorite herbs.

Warning:

Adding salt to dried legumes tend to make them tougher. Always season with salt after the lentils are fully cooked and ready to serve.