All of us, or almost all of us, love lentils. Besides being very tasty, they are also extremely healthy. Apart from Europe, lentils are mostly consumed in Turkey, Russia, India, etc. Lentils originate from the Middle East.
In the past, the history of the people of that time gave great attention to lentils and placed them in one of the first places on their table. Lentils replaced meat and fish, which were quite expensive at the time, because they also contain protein and lentils were a worthy substitute for them.
Nowadays, lentils enter the culinary traditions of countries such as Canada, India, Turkey and the United States. Lentils can come in many colors - red, brown, pink, yellow, green, black, brown and green French lentils.
1. Brown lentils are the most famous in Europe. You may also come across other names such as Egyptian. It is very tasty and has a pleasant aroma, that's why we love it so much. In addition to being tasty and aromatic, this type of lentils is also very easy and quick to prepare.
2. Green French lentils have a color that is something between black and green, and like brown lentils, they have a very rich flavor.
Its taste is very similar to that of hazelnuts. Originally, this type of lentils were grown on the volcanic peaks of France. But now, as strange as it sounds, they are grown in Italy and North America. This type contains a significant amount of fiber, which makes it not only tasty, but also very healthy.
3. Red Lentils - generally, the husks of this type of lentils are brown, but before they reach us, these husks are removed, leaving only the red and tasty grains underneath. Their preparation is very quick, so they are suitable for many dishes.
4. Black lentils - this type of lentils are also called "beluga" by the Russians, because their grains closely resemble the roe of a fish of the same name. In some countries they are not often found and that is why they are not as popular.
In addition to the lentils as a product, flour can also be made from them, which cannot be found everywhere, except in special dietary shops. Bread and porridge are made from it. These lentils contain almost all B vitamins.
They are also a good source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, calcium, potassium, copper, manganese. When buying lentils, look /if its package is transparent/ for the expiration date and their origin. Also, look for black spots on them. If you want to store them for a longer time, you should keep them in a dry, cool and dark place, where you will be sure that no moisture will get in, because the lentils can sprout.
And when you cook lentils, we advise you to wash them several times through water, until you see that the water becomes clearer and finally becomes clean. This means your lentils are cleaned and ready to be used.
If you love lentils, we recommend trying our recipes for:
- lentil soup;
- Red Lentils;
