Inexpensive and high in protein, the tiny lentil packs a punch in all the right ways. This nutritional powerhouse serves up helpings of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. It’s also a great source of plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Lentils are actually edible seeds from the legume family. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and types, like red, puy, and green lentils. A human staple for most of human existence, they’ve been found in sites dating back to the Bronze Age.
If you eat them regularly, lentils can help:
- Reduce the risk of chronic disease like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease
- Improve digestive function and boost healthy gut bacteria through their prebiotic properties
- Manage blood sugar levels
Lentil loveliness
Lentils are a great thing to have in your kitchen cupboard. They’re filling, healthy, and a great alternative protein to meat or fish. A staple food around the world, lentils are easy to cook and don’t need to be soaked before using.
Used in everything from soups to curries and stews, lentils are versatile as well as nourishing and tasty. Have you tried Mujadara, a delicious Middle Eastern speciality layered with lentils, rice and crispy caramelized onions? It’s served across the Middle East and has lots of different variations and spellings, but it’s always fresh, nutritious, and bursting with flavor.
Are you a lentil lover? What’s your favorite way to cook them?