Lentil Wars!

Ah, lentils.....a healthy, disc-shaped legume. It has a ton of health benefits- high in fiber and protein to name a few! They are yummy and extremely versatile. You can get them in several colors and all are easy to absorb liquid and flavor. I cooked a container of green ones this morning. Unlike other beans, these need no soaking. Just place them in pan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil, lower heat and continue to cook until desired tenderness-usually 20-30 minutes.
Lentils love to play with spices and flavors. For today's experiment I tried three combinations to see how I wanted to proceed. I took a few spoonfuls of cooked lentils, put them in three prep bowls and added salt and pepper to each. Then I experimented with:

1.Ground Cumin and Pete's Red Hot Sauce
2. Pete's sauce alone
3. Garam Masala- an amazing Indian spice. (A pungent blend of cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg, cloves, etc depending on region).
Indian groceries carry this, but you can also Google recipes to make your own. Well worth the time!


Pete's is more than heat added to a dish, It's a warm, soothing flavor that can bring out the best in many dishes. It's one of my go to spice additions. The Masala has very unique Indian spices and adds it's own kick to a dish- I have a great use for it with Ground Turkey I will share later.

The winner for me, and the base I will be using to create a lentil stew is #1. The cumin was the right complement to the Pete's sauce and it gives the lentils their own place at the flavor table.

Don't be afraid to experiment! You can cook lentils on a Sunday, keep them in the refrigerator and find a ton of use for them for the week. Great on salads, in soups and even just a little bowl of comfort with some Pete's!