Lentils on your plate: a miracle product

Lentils are an incredibly nutritious food suitable for people of all ages, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Incorporating lentils into your daily diet is an easy way to provide your body with essential nutrients.

Who would have thought that consuming these tiny legumes benefits internal health and positively impacts appearance? This legume helps strengthen the health of your skin, nails, hair, and teeth.

Lentils' delightful taste will appeal even to the most discerning gourmets. We invite you to diversify your diet with this wonder food and try out these simple recipes.

“Ezogelin” lentil soup

Ezogelin soup is hugely popular in Turkey and is undoubtedly one of the most common dishes there.

What sets ezogelin soup apart from regular lentil soup?

Although both are made from lentils, they are different soups. Regular lentil soup contains only lentils, whereas ezogelin includes both bulgur and rice. Unlike the smooth texture of regular lentil soup, ezogelin often has a grainy texture because it isn’t blended.

Photo: Freepik

•     2 cups red lentils
•     3 tablespoons rice
•     2 tablespoons bulgur
•     1 medium onion
•     1 teaspoon of tomato paste
•     1 tablespoon butter (or ghee)
•     9 cups hot water
•     1 teaspoon of dried mint
•     1 teaspoon thyme
•     1 teaspoon salt

Melt the butter in a pot and add the finely chopped onion and crushed garlic, sautéing until softened.

Add the rinsed red lentils, bulgur, and rice, stirring several times. Add salt, black pepper, and water, then mix again and cook until fully tender.

If the soup is too thick, gradually add boiling water to reach your desired consistency. Then add mint and thyme, stir well, and remove from heat. 

Lentil patties

Photo: iStock

• 2 cups red lentils
• 1 cup fine bulgur
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon of chili paste
• 6-7 green onion stalks
• 1/2 bunch parsley
• 1 teaspoon of chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• Salt to taste
• 1 lemon

Rinse the lentils, place them in a pot, and add about 1 liter of water.

After boiling for a bit, remove from heat. Add fine bulgur to the lentils and stir with a spoon. Cover with a lid and let rest for 15 minutes.

In a skillet, heat half a cup of olive oil and sauté the finely chopped onion until golden.

Add the tomato paste to the onions and sauté for another 2-3 minutes, then pour this mixture over the lentils and bulgur and mash.

Squeeze lemon juice over the mixture and add the spices. Add finely chopped green onions and parsley, then mix thoroughly. Shape into patties, and they’re ready to serve. Enjoy!

Shepherd’s Pie with lentils

This vegan pie, with its vegetable filling, is rich in plant-based protein and has a wonderful flavor. Its simplicity makes it ready to enjoy within an hour, perfect for festive gatherings, winter dinners, or lunches.

Photo: iStock

Ingredients:

• 1 kg potatoes
• 100 g lentils
• 200 g mushrooms
• 100 g green peas
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 50 ml olive oil
• Two garlic cloves
• Salt
• Vegetable broth (homemade is recommended for best flavor) 

Place the lentils in a pot, cover with vegetable broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.

Make mashed potatoes in a separate pot.

Heat a pan over high heat, add olive oil, and cook the mushrooms for three minutes. Add the onion, carrot, and celery, and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook for one more minute, ensuring it doesn’t burn.

Stir in diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, soy sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, and black pepper. Finally, add the cooked lentils and green peas, stir, and remove from heat. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish.

Carefully spread the mashed potatoes over the lentil mixture in an even layer. Use a fork to create a pattern on the top. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes until golden. Garnish with fresh herbs (parsley works best) before serving.