What are Red Split Lentils
Red Split Lentils are by far the quickest to cook of the lentil family. They need no pre-soaking unlike many legumes and as they are split (the skins removed so they split naturally into two halves), they cook very quickly.
With about 30% of their calories from protein, lentils have the third-highest level of protein, by weight, of any legume or nut, after soybeans and hemp. Proteins include the essential amino acids isoleucine and lysine. Red Lentils also contain folate, vitamin B1, minerals and dietary fibre. You can bulk buy these lentils on our wholesale webshop where the more you buy the better the price per kilo.
How do I prepare Red Split Lentils
First wash and inspect the dry lentils. Simply pop them in a sieve under running water and check them for any debris/other grains and make sure they’re rinsed and clean.
Pop them in a pan with water or broth (use 1 1/2 cups of water/broth to 1 cup of lentils). You can add flavourings such as herbs, garlic or onions but DON’T USE SALT. This toughens them if added at the beginning of cooking.
Bring to the boil, then turn down and simmer. Stir them now and again to prevent sticking to the pan.
Cooking time depends on whether you want them for salads, a thick puree or turn into mush. Around 15 minutes will start to turn them into a puree, 25 minutes you’ll have mush. Cook them for around 10-15 minutes if you want to use them in a salad, you want a tender but firm texture and for them to still hold their shape.
The easiest way is to check on your lentils as you cook them. Cooking times vary wildly depending on how large the pan, how cold the water and simply the size of lentils themselves. Simply have a taste at around 10 minutes and judge the cooking time accordingly.
Recipes
Red Lentil, Feta and Spinach Salad is a tasty and nutritious option, follow this link for this simple meal.
Try this spinach and lentil stew for a substantial supper.
Or use this recipe for Indian style lentils (this recipe usually uses brown or green lentils, so simply reduce the cooking time to taste).
For a tasty Buckwheat and Lentil Pilaf, follow this link.
Other 'How do I cook...' guides by Real Foods
How Do I Cook... Chickpeas
How Do I Cook... Green Lentils
How Do I Cook... Spelt
How Do I Cook... Bulghar
How Do I Cook... Kamut
How Do I Cook… Amaranth
How Do I Cook… Red Split Lentils
How Do I Cook… Buckwheat Roasted Kasha
How Do I Cook… Pinto Beans
How Do I Cook… Pearl Barley
Real Foods Organic & Essentials Ranges
Packed on site to increase freshness and allow more flexibility in pack sizes, Real Foods pre-packs are a great buy.
The Organic range is all Soil Association certified and the labels bear the Soil Association logo – guaranteed 100% organic and GMO free. All Real Foods Organic pre-packed products bear the Soil Association logo not only because the product is originally certified organic by the Soil Association, but also because we are licenced by the Soil Association to pack those products and supply them to you in the quantities that you need.
The Essential range is not organic but is still GMO free, top quality and great value for money.
Save money by buying larger sizes
With both the Essentials and Organic ranges, the more you buy the less you pay per 100g.
You can buy products from both ranges in many different weights, the minimum typically being 100g and the maximum being a bulk wholesale weight.
Take a look at any of these products on our website and you will see the pack sizes available for you to buy.