Lentil peas are a legume that come in various colors and are used in many dishes worldwide. They are high in protein, iron, and fiber, and have a low glycemic index. They can be cooked in 30-60 minutes and are a staple in Indian cooking.
Lentil peas are a type of legume similar to other types of beans and peas. They come in a variety of colors, with brown and green being the most abundant, although red and yellow varieties are frequently used in Indian cooking. In stores, lentil peas can be sold dried or pre-cooked and canned. Although the flavor varies depending on the variety and color, lentils generally have an earthy flavor with a bit of a kick to it. As a food, lentil peas are a staple in Indian cooking and are used in many dishes around the world, the simplest of which is a lentil stew that includes staple vegetables and sometimes bacon or a ham hock for flavor .
Even though lentil peas are in the same family as beans, they don’t take long to cook from their dry form. When added to a pot of water, lentils only take 30 to 60 minutes to cook. They are quite small, however, so it can be easy to overcook lentils, in which case they quickly break down into a mush. Lentils should be washed or soaked before cooking, because they can have a strong earthy flavor and produce dark, almost black foam if cooked unwashed.
In Indian cooking, lentil peas are used in many dishes, sometimes in very small quantities to provide texture or absorb excess liquid. The taste of lentils can be made more pungent by frying them in a little oil until they start to brown before adding water. Other regions, such as Africa and the Middle East, also use lentil peas in their traditional cooking, in part because the plant grows well in a variety of climates.
One of the simplest lentil pea dishes is lentil soup. This involves frying onions, carrots and celery in a pot with a bay leaf and then adding the lentils. Water is placed in the pot to cover the lentil peas, sometimes with a clove of smoked ham or cooked bacon for flavor. The entire soup is then cooked until the lentils are soft and the liquid has reduced to the desired amount.
Nutritionally, lentil peas have one of the highest amounts of protein available in a non-meat food. They also contain high amounts of iron, folic acid, vitamin B1 and manganese. Legumes are also a good source of dietary fiber. Lentils also have a very low glycemic index – essentially zero – which means they are digested slowly and do not cause blood sugar spikes when eaten.
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