Unearthing the Lentil

Unearthing the Lentil
Nutty, quick-cooking red lentils are complemented by bright tomatoes and warm Indian spices in this weeknight-friendly soup. Lynda Balslev for Tastefood
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Don’t underestimate the lentil. These tiny pebblelike legumes may be a tad frumpy in appearance, but any perceived drabness or lumpiness shouldn’t deter you from eating them. Lentils are rich in plant-based protein and fiber and are an excellent source of B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. Not only that, but they are remarkably satisfying and comforting to eat—and easy on the wallet as well.

You may be most familiar with the brown and green lentils, but lentils come in a rainbow of colors, ranging from red to yellow to black. They have subtle differences in flavor and cooking properties.

Lynda Balslev
Lynda Balslev
Author
Lynda Balslev is a cookbook author, food and travel writer, and recipe developer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives with her Danish husband, two children, a cat, and a dog. Balslev studied cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and worked as a personal chef, culinary instructor, and food writer in Switzerland and Denmark. Copyright 2025 Lynda Balslev. Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication.
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