Lentils are a super food in my book which means they contain many nutrients and are easy to include in a tasty meal. To be so small they pack a mighty punch. Lentils are legumes ( part of the bean family) and are a great source of fiber and iron. If you are a vegetarian, vegan or participating in Meatless Mondays, lentils serve as a great meat replacement, paired with peppers for better iron absorption. Lentils are also a great source of folate which is especially good for pregnant women, as folate helps prevent brain and spinal cord birth defects in babies.
Lentils are almost magical in the bevy of health benefits they offer, check out my list below of all the goodies lentils contain:
- Calcium
- Folic Acid
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Thiamine
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
Sources: www.livestrong.com and www.3fatchicks.com
Now here’s my recipe for lentil soup. This is a really great and easy meal for using what you have in the kitchen for those times when you need to go grocery shopping/ don’t feel like cooking. This soup just tastes way too good to be this easy.
Denise’s Simple Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 onion
- 4-5 cloves of garlic
- 5 carrots
- 1 16 oz bag of dried lentils
- 4-5 cups of chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- pinch of dried ginger
- teaspoon dried basil
- teaspoon salt
- teaspoon pepper
Procedure:
Chop up onion, garlic and carrots and saute in a stockpot on medium heat with the olive oil and salt, pepper and basil. Rinse the lentils in a strainer then add to pot and mix. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium/low and cover. Cook for 30-45 minutes depending on preference/ time constraints. I add the ginger and a little more pepper after finished cooking. Then Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional or nutritionist please consult your doctor before making any health decisions.
What’s your favorite way to make lentils?
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