These colorful, quick-cooking lentils have a mild, slightly sweet, earthy flavor and soft texture – perfect in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes, soups and stews.
Love lentils? If you normally load up on the green or brown variety, these red lentils will be a pleasing change of pace for your palate. Slightly sweet and nutty tasting, red lentils are the same as brown lentils, only their skins have been removed. The remaining reddish-orange seeds cook up quickly, letting you enjoy this versatile legume in less time than others.
Because they’re hulled, red lentils tend to lose their shape while cooking, breaking down and becoming soft. They mix in well to Indian or Middle Eastern dishes or can be pureed and added to soups or stews to thicken the texture.
Carefully sort lentils, removing any debris or shriveled lentils, and rinse thoroughly.
To prepare, in a medium-sized pot, combine 1 cup of lentils with 3 cups of water. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until lentils are soft. Add a pinch of salt or preferred seasoning, if desired. use in recipes or puree in a blender or food processor until smooth to add to soups or stews.
Keep dry and at room temperature (59°-75°F [15°-24°C]).
