Mangia Con Elena

  Loving Lentils I have a love affair with lentils. All legumes and pulses really, but lentils are my favourite.  They are an excellent nutritious plant based protein high in iron and phosphorus.  They come in several different varieties and each one has a slightly different taste profile. For example, brown and green lentils are firmer, hold their shape and have a deep, earthy taste whereas red and yellow lentils are sweeter and break down when cooked. Black beluga lentils taste more like black beans. Lentils are the perfect addition to soups, salads, stews and work great as braised side dishes. Knowing the difference between lentils can help you decide which type of lentil to use. For soup, I use a combination of brown, black or green lentils and some orange (will melt right down adding sweetness and making soup thicker). They are reasonable priced, have a long shelf life and you don't need to precook them when making soups! I keep both canned and dried lentils in my pantry. If