Give Lentils and Rice a Try for Frugal, Comfort Food
Kindly note: As an Amazon Associate and Affiliate for other companies, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases if you use the links provided. There is no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thanks so much for supporting my home business, Diligent Homemaker!
Unexpected Guests
They weren’t expecting us for supper but they invited us anyway. Missy and I were “in the area” and had asked the talented blacksmith if we could drop by to place an order for a hand-forged toilet paper holder. We’d never been to their home before this trip but immediately felt accepted and comfortable. The couple’s children were kind, courteous and mannerly. The home was decorated with life….things that they loved and found useful…just like in our home. The porch swing beckoned me to stay a while.
That was eight years ago in Arkansas but I will never forgot the meal they shared with us. Lentils and rice with homemade bread and sliced tomatoes were flavorful, plentiful, and comforting while given and received with friendship and gratitude. A pot of fresh-brewed hot tea was served before we headed on our way.
Memories
This humble meal made such an impression on me and I have thought of that visit many times with fondness. Just the memory of it reduces any anxiety. Not only was the meal delicious, nutritious and comforting but it was the centerpiece of a tableful of folks who were counting their blessings.
Sunday Feast
This reminds me of a story my minister Daddy once shared from the pulpit years ago. As a young minister in the late 1960s, he was preaching at family-centric, small country churches. It was the Southern custom in country churches of the 1960s and 1970s for folks to take the preacher (and his family, if he had one) home with them for lunch. The afternoon would be spent enjoying a meal, fellowship and then back to the church building for evening worship service. I’ll never forget my Daddy sharing in a sermon about one Sunday when he was a bachelor. A couple who had very little money invited him to their home and served him a delightful pot of pinto beans for Sunday lunch. His recollection of that meal was so sweet and stuck with him for many years after. He recalled how kind, hospitable and generous that couple was to him. As someone who loves to cook good food for folks, the part that stayed with me was how Daddy remembered the deliciousness of that single pot of well-flavored pinto beans.
A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.
Proverbs 15:17
Meals do not have to be expensive to be good or to demonstrate love.
Showing hospitality doesn’t have to be extravagant.
Cook with love. Serve with gratitude. Welcome with joy.
What are Lentils?
Lentils are legumes, not peas. They are not the same as split peas (which are also a delightful, frugal meal.) Lentils are prepared from the dried state and not eaten fresh, like other legumes or peas are often used. Learn about the differences in lentils at this AllRecipes blog.
I typically use brown lentils but have used red and green, as well. Red will be the softest of the choices when cooked. After they are cooked, the brown and green keep their shape a little bit. Purchase what is available to you, as they all work fine. I have found lentils at bulk food stores, Aldi grocery store or grab a few bags here.
How to Prepare?
Recipes for cooking lentils are really just suggestions. Use whatever meat (or none), broth, spices, and additional vegetables (carrots, potatoes, peppers, etc.) that you wish.
Check out these two methods and then make them your own.
Lentils and Rice, Two Recipes
How to Serve?
Simplicity of lentils and rice shines but please feel free to personalize this dish. We always enjoy our humble lentils over rice, typically Jasmine or Basmati. Prepare rice your favorite way but one of our best tips for rice prep is to rinse it before cooking to wash a good deal of the starch down the drain. This step prevents the rice from cooking into a sticky blob. Since we learned how to use the instant pressure cooker (Instapot), we use only it to cook our rice. Want to learn how we do this? Check out my video tutorial.
Don’t forget the toppings as well! We like chopped sweet onions, chopped fresh or canned tomatoes, hot sauce, a drizzle of plain yogurt. What will you add?
Other Options
Would you like to try lentils in a pasta format?? I absolutely love this red lentil pasta for my Ham Pasta Salad. I also really like green lentil lasagna sheets for Vegetable Lasagna using Green Lentil Pasta, if you can find them. I recently found a stash at a local bent-and-dent grocery outlet store.
Lentils and Rice
Ingredients
Method
- Rinse lentils. Discard any bad ones or stones. No need to presoak.
- In Dutch oven, sauté smoked sausage until almost cooked. Add fat/oil, garlic powder, onions, bay leaves. Stir about two minutes on medium-high heat.
- Add rinsed lentils. Stir. Add chicken broth. Add water to cover. Bring to almost boil, then reduce heat to simmer until lentils are tender. Taste to tell. They should be completely soft.
- Stir a few times during cooking and check liquid level. Do not allow liquid to go below the top of lentils but they shouldn't be swimming either.
- When done, serve with rice. Jasmine and Basmati are our favorite rices. These are easy to cook in an instant pressure cooker. Refer to video instruction.
- Serve with just a nice pat of butter or with a variety of toppings. We like to add a drizzle of homemade yogurt. This is easy to make in a slow cooker. Refer to video instruction.
Notes
ground beef or other meat (but no meat works fine!)
Italian seasoning
Taco seasoning
salt
pepper
dried or fresh herbs
hot sauce
can of tomatoes
Lentils and Rice #2
Ingredients
Method
- Rinse lentils. (1 cup dry lentils = 2.5 cups cooked)
- Sauté onion in coconut oil.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Simmer until lentils are soft(pre soaking unnecessary).
- Serve with white rice and/or bread and toppings of choice. Ideas: chopped onions, relish, chopped tomatoes, chutney.
