Comments on: Lentil Pilaf, Side Dish

By: Gigi

Gigi — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:54:15 +0000

Update! I'm cooking lentils in the rice cooker, as I type this!
In case anyone's interested, I posted my recipe at my place: http://thegreenecastle.blogspot.com/2009/10/lenti...

By: SnoWhite

SnoWhite — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:24 +0000

they are delicious – and that pilaf looks mighty tasty.

By: rachel

rachel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:04:06 +0000

yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy

Did I mention yummy?

Lentils are definitely photogenic but they ARE delicious!

By: Gigi

Gigi — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:05:09 +0000

Lentils in the rice cooker! Brilliant!

I've only just discovered the rice cooker, and it's my new favorite gadget in the world. Along with it, I discovered Lundberg Organics Short Grain Brown Rice. WOW.

I love to make Mujadarra (onions, rice, lentils), but the timing is complicated because I use brown rice, so it takes twice as long to cook as the lentils. Delicious!!

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:52:40 +0000

Lentils would be an entirely new territory for my crew. Howecer, anything with red pepper and pig is usually a go with them, so I'll try it that way. Also, any help at all with taking veggies "from ok to WOW" would be super.

By: HeatherSolos

HeatherSolos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:56:47 +0000

Excellent! I'm glad she liked it. My kids will eat this, begrudgingly, but I'd probably face a full on revolt with crushed red pepper.

By: HeatherSolos

HeatherSolos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:55:50 +0000

I will definitely try that. That reminds me. I *still* haven't posted my balsamic reduction technique. It's one of the most simple tricks in the world and takes a lot of vegetables from ok to WOW.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:27:21 +0000

If you use balsamic vinegar in place of lemon juice – it's amazing. Balsamic takes lentils to a whole new level. (Now, there's a sentence only a cheap-o nerd would write!)

Cook lentils just like rice to keep them from getting mushy. 1 c. lentils, 2 c. water, cover, bring to a boil for a minute, turn to low for 20 minutes. You can even cook lentils in a rice cooker. I usually cook lentils and rice together at the same time!

By: JimK

JimK — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:15:46 +0000

SUCCESS! She ate it and liked it.

Changes I made: Added ham cubes and made it a main dish. Also added a small amount of hot pepper flakes into the lentils about halfway through cooking.

By: JimK

JimK — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:30:05 +0000

Oh it gets better.

When I told her what we were having tonight, she wrinkled her nose and then this happened:

"You want me to eat what?"
"I told you I was adding crumbled bacon, right? You cannot POSSIBLY object to bacon."
"No, but lentils? Why would I eat those?"
"Besides the fact that they are tasty and good for you? Okay, just answer yes or no. Do you like peppers?"
"Yes."
"Do you like onions?"
"Yes, but…"
"No, just say yes or no. Do you like mushrooms?"
"Yes."
"Do you like chicken stock in everything from soup to risotto?"
"Yes."
"Do you like carrots when I put them in soups and corned been & cabbage?"
"yes."
"Well, the only possible objection you may have is the lentils, and since you aren't four, you;re going to try to eat them and be adult about it. You eat like a 400 pound neophobic child, woman, and it's gotta stop."
"Fine. I'll try it, but i reserve the right to order a pizza if I hate it."
"Whatever."

Seriously. She's 37. If I left her to her own devices she'd eat mac & cheese from a box, frozen swedish meatballs and little powdered and chocolate doughnuts Every. Freaking. Day. God knows I love the woman but she drives me nuts at the dinner table!