These Recipes Will Make You Believe the Hype About Lentils

These Recipes Will Make You Believe the Hype About Lentils

That's right, lentils are all the rage — thanks to the trendsetting royal 4-year-old. After word got out that the London school Prince George attends serves puy lentils topped by smoked mackerel, the U.K. saw a surge in demand for the legumes. Perhaps this craze will carry over to the United States.

So if you're ready to jump on the bandwagon, here's the info on these popular legumes.

Known to be heart-healthy

A lentil is an edible pulse. As a bushy annual plant of the legume family, it’s known for its lens-shaped seeds. The seeds grow in pods, usually with two seeds in each. Chickpeas, beans, and peas are also part of the pulses group and are all an excellent source of fiber and protein.

“A diet rich in pulses, which includes lentils, is linked to a lowered risk of cholesterol and heart disease, reduced risk of certain cancers, and reduced instance of obesity,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, nutritionist and author of Belly Fat Diet for Dummies.

For vegetarians, lentils provide plant-protein, adds Dawn Jackson Blatner, dietitian and author of The Superfood Swap. “They are also a source of fiber and minerals such as iron and zinc, which can be hard nutrients for vegetarians to get enough of,” she says.

Make a great Replacer:

Since lentils are a great carrier of flavor, Palinski-Wade says they’re often used in traditional meaty dishes to either replace the meat or to make the meaty dish heartier.

“For instance, lentils can replace most or all of the sausage in lasagna,” she says.

Blatner agrees, noting that you can incorporate lentils into recipes that you would normally use ground beef in, so that meatballs, meat-marinara sauce, meatloaf, and ground beef taco filling become lentil-based and meat-free — just like in her favorite meatball recipe!

Sweets can get in on the fun, too. Flour in traditional baked good recipes, such as brownies, can be swapped out with lentils to increase the fiber and protein content of the recipe, notes Palinski-Wade.

Whether you want to be like (or eat like) Prince George, or simply want to add variety to your diet, Blatner says you can't go wrong with these legumes.

“Lentils are an incredibly versatile food and can be incorporated into almost any meal or snack,” she says. “They can be enjoyed alone or as part of a recipe for an easy, affordable way to boost your fiber and protein intake.”

 Try some recipes

Looking for ways to incorporate more lentils into your routine? Check out these recipes.

Lentil and eggplant lasagna

Who doesn't like lasagna with a twist? Ditch the traditional dish and bring something different to the table with this lentil and eggplant lasagna from the Minimalist Baker! Get the recipe!

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