**Lentils with Spinach: A Nutritious and Flavorful Dish**
Lentils with spinach is a classic dish that combines the goodness of lentils with the vibrant flavor of spinach. It's a wholesome and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course, side dish, or even as a filling for wraps and sandwiches. The combination of lentils and spinach provides a rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious and satisfying meal. Lentils are a good source of protein and fiber, while spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and folate. Together, they create a delicious and nutritious dish that is perfect for a healthy meal. This article includes three variations of the classic lentils and spinach recipe: a basic version, a vegan version, and an Indian-spiced version. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions and cooking tips to help you create a delicious and satisfying meal. Whether you're looking for a simple and nutritious weeknight dinner or a flavorful dish to impress your guests, lentils with spinach is a great option!
INDIAN LENTILS AND SPINACH
I combined two other recipes to create this.
Provided by artyjeep
Categories Side Dish Beans and Peas
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in the hot oil until beginning to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add minced garlic to onion; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
- Mix chicken broth, lentils, 1/2 cup water, crushed garlic, coriander, salt, cumin, chili powder, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf into onion mixture; bring to a boil. Cover pan, lower heat to medium-low, and simmer until lentils are soft, about 35 minutes.
- Place spinach in a microwave-safe bowl and add 1/4 cup water; heat in microwave for 5 minutes. Stir spinach and continue cooking in microwave until heated through, about 5 minutes more. Let spinach cool, about 5 minutes; drain water and squeeze excess water from spinach.
- Mix spinach into lentils; cover pan and simmer until heated through, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 129.3 calories, Carbohydrate 20 g, Fat 2.4 g, Fiber 9.4 g, Protein 8.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 324.6 mg, Sugar 2 g
LENTILS WITH SPINACH
This grain and vegetable dish is a perfect complement to a main course but flavorful enough to steal the show.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Salad Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, combine the water, lentils, carrot, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain, discarding bay leaf.
- Use a paper towel to wipe out any water from the saucepan. Add oil, and return pan to medium heat. Stir in the lentils, vegetables, and spinach. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Taste, and adjust for seasoning. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to serving bowls.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 135 g, Fat 3 g, Protein 8 g
SPINACH-AND-GARLIC LENTILS
This bright and satisfying lentil side dish will make you forget you ever had a dull brown one. We use orange lentils, which cook fast, and finish the whole dish with a garlic-spice butter drizzled on top.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 45m
Yield about 9 cups
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine the lentils, tomato, 2 cloves of garlic, ginger, serrano chile, turmeric and 6 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a high simmer and cook, occasionally whisking vigorously, until the lentils are tender and begin to fall apart and the mixture is like a thin porridge, 15 to 18 minutes. Add the spinach to the pan in batches and stir until wilted. Add the lemon juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Remove from the heat.
- Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining clove of garlic and the cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Swirl until the garlic and is golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Pour the lentils into a large serving bowl and drizzle with the garlic butter. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calorie, Fat 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2.5 grams, Cholesterol 10 milligrams, Sodium 400 milligrams, Carbohydrate 37 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 16 grams, Sugar 2 grams
LENTILS AND SPINACH
This is my own adaptation of an Indian recipe. It doesn't look like much, but it is surprisingly yummy. Serve this for dinner over hot rice or a diced baked potato. Pair with carrots, cauliflower, or a fresh sliced tomato for a full meal.
Provided by bobawood
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegan
Time 1h5m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Saute onion for 10 minutes or so, until it begins to turn golden. Add minced garlic and saute for another minute or so.
- Add lentils and water to the saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer about 35 minutes, until lentils are soft ( this may take less time, depending on your water and the lentils).
- Meanwhile cook the spinach in microwave according to package directions. Add spinach, salt and cumin to the saucepan. Cover and simmer until all is heated, about ten minutes. Grind in plenty of pepper and press in extra garlic to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 165.3 calories, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fat 4.3 g, Fiber 10.4 g, Protein 9.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 639.1 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
HERBED LENTILS WITH SPINACH AND TOMATOES
Provided by Ellie Krieger
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings, serving size 3/4 cup
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place the lentils in a pot with the water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes, until the lentils are tender but still retain their shape. Drain any excess water from the lentils and set them aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook until they are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, lentils, basil, parsley, and mint to the pan and stir to combine. Cook until warmed through, about 1 minute. Stir in the lemon juice, salt and pepper and serve.
- Excellent source of: Protein, Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Iron,
- Good source of: Potassium
EASY SPINACH LENTIL SOUP
This lentil soup is easy and delicious. Though the recipe calls for carrots, potatoes, and spinach, add any other vegetables you love.
Provided by Maggie R.
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Spinach Soup Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Place bacon in a large skillet or Dutch oven and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in carrot, onion, and olive oil cooking until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Cover bacon mixture with chicken broth, water, and salsa; mix in lentils, bay leaf, cumin, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until lentils are tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Stir in spinach and potatoes; simmer until spinach is wilted and potatoes are cooked, 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 384.5 calories, Carbohydrate 59.9 g, Cholesterol 11.8 mg, Fat 5.1 g, Fiber 26.4 g, Protein 25.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 1422.3 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
LENTILS WITH SPINACH
This is a Middle Eastern recipe from Madhur Jaffrey's World of the East Vegetarian Cooking. This is good over brown rice and served with Recipe #292585.
Provided by mliss29
Categories Stew
Time 45m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cut onion in half lengthwise and then cut the halves into fine half rings.
- Heat oil over medium flame.
- When hot, put in onion and garlic. Stir and saute for 2 minutes.
- Put in lentils and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil.
- Cover, lower heat, and simmer about 25 minutes or until lentils are just tender.
- Defrost spinach and add spinach, salt, and cumin to the lentils.
- Simmer 10 minutes. Add pepper. Serve.
SPINACH WITH LENTILS
This is a low fat, not too bad on the calories recipe. Really satisfying, especially on cold days. It can be a meal in itself
Provided by Bergy
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Put lentils& bay leaf into a sauce pan and cover with water until the water is 1" above the lentils, bring to a boil, reduce heat& simmer until tender 40-50 minutes.
- You may have to add a bit of water if they cook dry.
- Remove from heat, cover& keep warm, Drain off any excess water.
- In a large skillet or wok heat oil.
- Saute the garlic& carrot until golden.
- Stir in spinach until just wilted (do not over cook).
- Stir the spinach into the lentils and season to taste.
- Mix in lemon juice.
RAGHAVAN'S PALAK MASOOR DAL (RED LENTILS WITH SPINACH)
Comforting, satiating, and nutritious, dals are an everyday occurrence in millions of Indian homes across the world. This particular dal (red lentils with spinach) cooks quickly, requires no presoaking, and is easy to assemble with a handful of ingredients. Serve with naan or cooked basmati rice.
Provided by Raghavan Iyer
Categories Vegetarian Indian Main Dishes
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Rinse lentils in a 3- to 4-quart pot with water, rubbing lentils between the fingertips of one hand, then drain. Repeat 3 or 4 times or until the water runs clear.
- Place drained lentils in the pot and add 2 cups water, tomatoes, ginger, chiles, and turmeric. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skimming and discarding foam. When tomato skin is loosened and wrinkled, after about 5 minutes of cooking, transfer tomatoes to a plate to cool.
- Reduce heat to medium and simmer lentils, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until very tender and almost mushy, about 15 minutes. (The lentil color will change from salmon to pale yellow as they cook.) Keep warm over low heat.
- Meanwhile, peel and core cooled tomatoes; discard skins. Transfer tomatoes to a blender, along with the ginger and chiles from the pot and the cilantro. Pureé, scraping down the sides as needed, until you have a thick, green-flecked tomato sauce.
- Heat ghee in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add cumin seeds and let sizzle until they turn reddish brown and smell nutty, about 10 seconds. Immediately add spinach in handfuls, stirring to wilt.
- Stir spinach mixture, tomato sauce, and salt into warm lentils. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, to let the flavors mingle, about 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 246.8 calories, Carbohydrate 31.9 g, Cholesterol 16.4 mg, Fat 7.8 g, Fiber 8.9 g, Protein 14.8 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 498.2 mg
BRAISED LENTILS WITH SPINACH
Provided by Lidia Bastianich
Categories Bean Leafy Green Side Braise High Fiber Low/No Sugar Spinach Lentil Fall Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Pour enough cold water over the lentils, onions, carrots, celery, and bay leaves in a 3-quart saucepan to cover by three fingers. Season with salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Adjust the heat so the water is at a gentle boil and cook until the lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the lentils, discard the bay leaves, and transfer to a large skillet.
- Pour in the chicken stock and olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid is reduced enough to coat the lentils, about 3 minutes. Scatter the spinach over the lentils and toss just until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.
Tips:
- Rinse the lentils thoroughly before cooking. This will remove any dirt or debris.
- Use a variety of lentils. There are many different types of lentils available, each with its own unique flavor and texture. Experiment with different types to find your favorites.
- Add vegetables to your lentils. Vegetables add flavor, nutrition, and color to lentils. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and spinach.
- Season your lentils well. Lentils can be bland on their own, so it's important to season them well. Use a variety of spices, such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala.
- Cook lentils until they are tender but still hold their shape. Lentils should be cooked until they are tender but still have a slight bite to them. Overcooked lentils will be mushy and bland.
Conclusion:
Lentils are a versatile and affordable ingredient that can be used to make a variety of delicious dishes. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients. Lentils are also a good choice for people who are looking for a meatless meal. With a little creativity, lentils can be used to make a variety of soups, stews, salads, and other dishes. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious meal, give lentils a try!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#60-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #main-ingredient #cuisine #preparation #occasion #main-dish #beans #vegetables #asian #middle-eastern #fall #vegan #vegetarian #winter #stews #dietary #low-cholesterol #seasonal #low-carb #lentils #healthy-2 #low-in-something #greens #spinach #taste-mood #savory
You'll also love