Healthy Lentil Recipes

Lentils are one of the best foods to eat when you are trying to control your appetite because the high content of dietary fibre really helps to blunt your stomach hunger and the slow digesting form of carbohydrates helps to prevent swings in blood sugar levels, causing you to have a large energy spike followed by a drop that leaves you ravenous for more.

The following are some great recipes to try that include lentils along with other foods that increase the nutritional value of the meal even more.

Lentil Stew

7 medium potatoes

1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes

1 large onion, chopped

3 stalks of celery, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 pound diced cooked chicken breast

1 16 ounce package of lentils

salt and pepper to taste

First place the potatoes, tomatoes, celery and onion in a large pot with enough water to fully cover them. Bring this mixture to a boil and cook for 15 minutes.

Stir in the cooked chicken and lentils and then add more water if needed. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to medium low heat and continue to cook for another 20 minutes. Serve with a fresh mixed salad.

Spinach Lentil Soup

1/3 cup uncooked white rice

2/3 cup water

1 tsp vegetable oil

4 oz chicken

1 onion, chopped

1 stalk of celery, chopped

½ cup kernel corn

10 baby carrots, chopped

6 cups of water

2 cups chicken broth (or two more cups water with 1 serving chicken bouillon)

1 cup dry lentils

1 bag fresh spinach

First bring water and rice to a boil in a pot. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 more minutes. Meanwhile, in another large pot over medium, heat the oil and then add chicken, stirring until lightly cooked. Throw in the onion, celery, carrot and corn and then cook until tender.

Next pour the water and broth into the mixture, adding lentils and stirring until everything is well blended. Bring this to a boil once again and then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes more.

Once that is done, add in the cooked rice and spinach, continuing to cook for another 5 minutes before serving.

Lentil Mushroom Soup

2 cups chopped mushrooms

1 green bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 small onion

1 tbsp olive oil

4 cloves of garlic

1 6 ounce can of tomato paste

5 cups of chicken broth

4 tsp dried basil

1 ½ cups dried brown lentils, rinsed and drained

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup skim milk

1/8 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

First heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Next add the mushrooms, green and red pepper, onion and garlic and sauté until the vegetables are tender. Heat for about 5 minutes. Next pour the chicken broth into the pot and then blend in the tomato paste. Bring this to a boil and then add in the lentils. Reduce the heat to low, cover and continue to simmer for about 15 minutes longer. Lastly, stir in skim milk and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Cover and simmer one last time for about 15 minutes.

Ladle the soup into bowls and then top each bowl with Parmesan Cheese before serving.

So give any of these three recipes a try next time you are looking for a good meal that's relatively easy to prepare. These dishes will also keep well so you can simply refrigerate after cooking and take them to work the next day for a quick lunch.