Lentils can be used to make many interesting and satisfying dishes, from soups and side dishes to pie fillings. To make the dish cook faster and turn out to be especially tasty, use a multicooker - it will help you fry vegetables, steam cereals and bring food to the desired condition without unnecessary hassle.
For a healthy diet: a side dish of lentils and vegetables
Green lentils are suitable for this dish - they retain their shape well during cooking and have a rich taste. This side dish is especially good as an accompaniment to meat dishes. But it is also suitable for a vegetarian table. Separately, you can serve green salad.
You will need:
- 1 glass of lentils;
- 4 glasses of water;
- 1 large carrot;
- 1 onion;
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil;
- salt.
Wash and peel vegetables. Cut the onion into thin half rings and place in the multicooker bowl. Turn on the frying mode for 3 minutes. Then add the carrots grated on a coarse grater to the onion and continue frying - it will take 10 minutes in total.
You can shorten the cooking time of lentils by soaking them for an hour in cold water. Then cooking will take only 20 minutes, and you will need no more than 2 glasses of liquid for cooking.
Rinse the lentils, discard them in a colander, and then place them over the fried vegetables. Pour the mixture with water, add salt, stir. On the multicooker panel, select the "Buckwheat" or "Porridge" mode. Cook until the end of the cycle. If you want to make meat at the same time, place the prepared pieces on the wire rack on top. Select the "Steam cooking" mode - the meat will be ready in 40 minutes.
Lentils in coconut milk
Try an original Indian-style dish. Spices and coconut milk will add piquancy to lentils.
You will need:
- 1 glass of red or yellow lentils;
- 250 g of coconut milk;
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric;
- 0.5 teaspoon dried chili;
- 1 small onion;
- salt;
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil;
- 0.5 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest.
Chili and turmeric can be substituted with curry powder, and orange peel can be added instead of lemon peel.
Rinse the lentils, drain the water. Rub the lemon zest. Peel and finely chop the onion. Put it in a multicooker bowl along with vegetable oil and fry for 3 minutes. Add spices and zest to the onion and cook for another 2 minutes. Add lentils to the multicooker bowl and turn on the "Stew" mode. Don't forget to add salt to the mixture.
Cook the lentils for 20 minutes, then pour in the coconut milk, stir and continue cooking until the milk is completely absorbed. This will take another 20 minutes or so. Lentils in coconut milk are especially delicious with chicken - grill or steam them.
