Do you enjoy dried beans but have limited time and energy to soak and cook them? Do you struggle with constipation? Are you watching your food budget?
Lentils can be a great remedy for all of the above! If you’ve ever avoided dried beans because of the time involved in soaking and cooking, consider lentils. Rinse a one-pound bag, add to 6-8 cups of water with a bay leaf, boil for 15 minutes and they are ready to eat!
One half cup of cooked lentils provides 8 grams of fiber (about a third of your daily needs) along with folate and protein, making them a great remedy for constipation and an excellent meat substitute.
And if you are on a tight budget, you can buy a one-pound bag of green lentils for less than a dollar!
My favorite way to enjoy lentils is as part of a one-dish meal. Last night I tried this new recipe from one of my favorite cooking sites, Epicurious: Warm Lentil Salad with Sausage with mustard vinaigrette.
What I like most about this recipe are the variations you can create. Experiment by adding different vegetables, change the type of sausage and/or the type of vinegar to create a whole new dish. I added red bell pepper strips and used a spicy Andouille chicken sausage last night. You can also leave out the sausage and serve cold as a summer salad.Given the recommendations for nutrition after cancer treatment from the American Institute for Cancer Research, try the following to boost this recipe’s cancer-fighting powers.
Do you enjoy lentils? Share your favorite recipe and I’ll post next week!
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