Lentils - a plant of the legume family, which began to be eaten long before the appearance of other representatives of this genus. Most often, all varieties of this herb are used for food, but weeds are also found among lentil plants. In ancient peoples, lentils were on the table almost every day.
Growth
The first mention of lentils is found in the Old Testament, and even in Egyptian tombs found this culture. The homeland of legumes is considered Central Asia and South America. Currently, many countries with warm climates cultivate this crop for export and import.
Beneficial features
Lentils in a slow cooker or boiled in a pan are rich in useful substances, so it is often used as a medicine. A decoction of this plant was recommended for smallpox, and liquid porridge for digestive disorders. Many people still believe that regular use of lentils makes a person calm and peaceful.
Porridge from lentils in a slow cooker or cooked in a pan will help with urolithiasis, as well as enrich the body with protein and vitamins. By the way, the vitamins of group B are most of all in the plant. Sufficiently low calorie content (100 Kcal per 100 grams of boiled product) in combination with high satiety make the product indispensable in dietetics.
Heat treatment
During the preparation of any product, it is important that it retains its beneficial properties. Many are interested in how to cook lentils in a slow cooker so that it remains as useful as possible. To do this, just observe the cooking time of the product.
Each bean variety is good in its own way. Some are suitable only for salads, while others are better for making cereals.
For side dishes and cereals, it is best to take black and brown lentils, but for soups, varieties of red, yellow or orange are suitable. The well-known green lentils are universal, therefore, can be used in any dish.
Almost everyone knows how to cook lentils in a slow cooker, but not many people know that it is worth observing the cooking time and the amount of water. After all, if the cooking technology is violated, the lentils will simply break into a mushy mass.
Before cooking, the crop should be washed and sorted to remove unnecessary garbage and spoiled beans. Pre-lentils should not be soaked, it is already prepared in a fairly short time. Some housewives pour culture with boiling water before cooking - this does not affect the taste of the product.
Some tips
First, you should correctly determine the bean plant variety. For cooking soups in the store you can buy a ready-made set of lentils with spices. Porridge and red lentil soup in a slow cooker will cook the same amount of time.
Porridge and side dishes count on the number of persons in measuring cups. And for salad, lentils should be cooked in minimal quantities - a spoon or two.
Lentils with vegetables
A healthy, tasty and satisfying meal can be a dinner of vegetables and a legume plant. Porridge from lentils in a slow cooker cooks no more than 30-40 minutes. To do this, we washed and sampled lentils in the volume of one measuring cup, put them on the bottom of the multicooker, then add water 1-2 measuring cups, turn on the "Soup" or "Multicooking" function. After 15-20 minutes, diced vegetables (about 200-300 grams) can be added to legumes. It can be carrots, onions, zucchini, broccoli or cauliflower, fresh pepper. Corn is also perfect for such an assortment. Then cook until cooked, and at the end you can add spices and herbs to taste. Several tablespoons of tomato paste and a clove of garlic will make your dish more saturated and aromatic. And do not forget to add 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil - this will help the protein of the legume plant to digest better.
Lentil soup in a slow cooker
For soup, it is best to take red or orange lentils, wash and sort out. For aromatic lentil soup with smoked meats you will need 300-400 grams of hot smoked pork ribs or other smoked meats, as well as 2 small potatoes, carrots, onions, spices. Grated carrots and onions, fry in a slow cooker until yellow, and then add ribs to them (previously sliced and chopped).
It is best to cut off excess fat from meat to make the soup more tasty and aromatic. Lentils in a slow cooker will cook for 15-20 minutes, during which time the remaining ingredients will have time to cook, so they can be laid in a bowl at the same time. To the ribs, carrots and onions, add 1 measuring cup of red or orange lentils and chopped potatoes. We fill everything with 3-4 cm of water. We turn on the “Soup” mode. At the end of cooking (10-15 minutes before cooking), you need to add spices and salt, herbs to taste.
Lentil Garnish
Legumes go well with meat and vegetables, as well as boiled fish. Lentils in a slow cooker cook quite quickly. The main thing is not to add salt at the beginning of cooking, otherwise the product may boil. As a side dish for any dish, you can cook green or black lentils. To do this, take one carrot and rub it on a coarse grater, chop onions and fry everything in a slow cooker on the function "Fry" until golden brown. Bean culture in the amount of 2 measured glasses of mine and iterate, and then add to carrots and onions. Pour this lightly fried mixture with 2 measuring glasses of water and turn on the “Soup”, “Porridge” or “Multicooking” mode. You can start cooking the main dish. At the end of the cooking process, salt and pepper the side dish, you can add greens to taste.
Lentils with Chicken
To prepare this dish, any part of the bird carcass is suitable, so you can choose the most favorite one. To taste, the finished dish resembles pilaf, only with a bean culture instead of rice. For cooking you will need: 1 medium carrot, onion, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 head of garlic, salt, pepper, lentils (any grade) and poultry 300-500 grams, as well as fresh sweet pepper.
Lentils in the Redmond slow cooker along with chicken and vegetables will be ready in less than two hours. For cooking, it is necessary to pour a few tablespoons of sunflower oil on the bottom of the multicooker tank and cook carrots and onions (previously sliced) until golden brown on the "Frying" function. Chicken is best cut into small pieces and add to the roast, along with cubes of sweet pepper. Then add tomato paste and spices to the mixture, fry for a few more minutes. Pre-wash the lentils and sort it out. Enough 2-3 measured glasses of bean culture. Then we combine and stew all the products (water 1-2 measuring cups). Add the whole garlic, as in pilaf.
Lentils in a slow cooker: recipe for meatballs
In order to prepare bean balls from legumes, you will need your desire and imagination, as well as a minimum amount of ingredients. For the dish you need lentils (preferably green or black), onions, carrots, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs and 2 eggs.
Lentils must first be boiled in a slow cooker until cooked. Then drain the remaining water, let the beans cool, and then turn them into mashed potatoes (you can use a blender or mixer or manually). In mashed potatoes, add finely chopped onions and carrots, as well as 2 eggs and spices.
For cooking, you will need frying oil and parsley for decoration. It is worth noting that some add fried mushrooms to the meatballs - this adds spice to the dish. We form balls from the resulting mass. Each ball can be rolled in flour or breadcrumbs and sautéed in a slow cooker. A tasty and healthy product is ready.
Lentil stew
When many dishes are already fed up, legumes can come to the rescue. Lentils in a slow cooker with vegetables and potatoes are tasty, healthy and unusual. You will need 4-5 small potatoes, 1 carrot and a head of onion, zucchini or cauliflower (you can have both), 150 grams, tomato paste and 300-400 grams of any meat. We cut all the ingredients into cubes and add 2 measuring cups of lentils, close the lid of the multicooker and simmer.
After an hour and a half, you can salt and pepper, add spices. Then bring to readiness and decorate with greens.
Lentils in a slow cooker are a universal dish both in everyday life and on holidays. And also this is a dietary product. There are many recipes and recommendations for weight loss through the use of legumes. Of course, this dish is very good to use in the diet, but do not get carried away. Long-term daily use of lentils can cause gas and stool problems. Everything is good in moderation - this rule must be taken into account.