One Pot Lentils and Rice

Packed with complete grains and legumes this One Pot Lentils and Rice is a wholesome, simple aspect dish that’s filled with taste! The lentils and rice prepare dinner collectively in a single pot, and feed a crowd.

Why We Love Lentils

We don’t wish to get all sensational right here, however… lentils are a little bit of a hidden secret. These humble legumes, full of protein, fiber, iron, nutritional vitamins, and minerals, can profit our well being at all ages and stage. (Even infants love lentils!) And with somewhat care within the preparation, they style nice, too!

We need our children to eat All The Lentils. And with this tasty one pot lentils and rice recipe, they’ll wish to eat All The Lentils, too.

You could make this savory aspect dish almost as simply as you’ll be able to prepare dinner rice. But right here, you get one thing additional particular. The diet is superior. The texture is hearty however gentle. The broth and vibrant herbs add depth and freshness.

Pair these lentils and rice with grilled rooster or fish and a inexperienced salad for a superbly balanced and scrumptious household dinner.

Are Lentils and Rice Good for You?

Here’s the lowdown as to why we like to serve this dish to our children (and ourselves.)

Just one half cup of lentils supplies 9 grams of protein (greater than an egg!) a 3rd of our day by day fiber, and virtually half the day by day advisable quantity of folate.

Brown rice, true to it’s complete grain goodness, dishes out loads of fiber too, together with minerals like manganese and selenium, and B-vitamins.

And can we speak about recent herbs? Parsley and scallions are as potent in diet as they’re in taste. These herbs are filled with nutritional vitamins and antioxidants. Parsley helps help a wholesome coronary heart, liver, and immune system.

The quick model: eat up! This aspect is tremendous nutritious.

Ingredients Needed for Brown Lentils and Rice

• Brown Rice – quick grain brown rice is greatest for this recipe
• Lentils – French lentils are greatest. They are quite a lot of inexperienced lentils however they’re barely darker and smaller.
• Chicken Broth
• Butter – unsalted
• Garnish – recent parsley and inexperienced onions

Tips for Making the Best Lentils and Rice

We examined this recipe rather a lot. Except “tested” isn’t the precise phrase. Really, we simply saved making it, as a result of it was so tasty each time and we simply needed to maintain consuming it. BUT on this course of of constructing it and making it once more, we discovered a bunch of ideas and tips that assist your lentils and rice end up good. Here’s what we all know:

• French lentils work greatest right here. Those are the small, greenish-brown marbled ones. They maintain their form higher than atypical inexperienced or brown lentils.
• Choose a very inventory or broth with a taste your actually like. Because you’ll style it. Homemade is superior, however your favourite store-bought model additionally works wonderful.
• Leave the lentils and rice alone whereas they prepare dinner. Stirring will launch the starches into the broth and make the entire combination sort of sticky, and fewer appetizing. Find a pleasant low simmer, cowl the pot, and let it’s.
• Adjust the quantity of liquid if wanted. A number of variables can change how a lot broth you’ll want to melt the lentils and rice. Add and further splash if it looks as if the pot is getting dry midway by means of cooking.
• Wait till the very finish so as to add the herbs. You need them recent as will be. And don’t stir too vigorously
• If your children are suspicious of the herbs, maintain them in a dish on the aspect. Each individual on the desk can add a sprinkle of she likes, or chorus if she doesn’t.
• Add in tasty extras. This dish pairs properly with loads of flavors. Feel free so as to add what you have got readily available like cooked rooster, beef or roasted greens.

What Should You Serve with Lentils and Rice?

This dish is loopy versatile. The taste of the lentils and rice itself is so versatile that you may pair it with a number of totally different cuisines, and nothing will appear misplaced. Here are a number of easy pattern menu plans you would possibly strive:

• Grilled rooster, inexperienced salad, lentils and rice.
• Instant Pot salmon, steamed carrots, lentils and rice.
• Indian butter rooster, roasted cauliflower, lentils and rice.
• Lentils and rice, recent fruit salad, and sauteed spinach.

More Healthy Sides

• Rinse rice (we choose lengthy grain brown rice) and lentils totally in three modifications of water. Drain properly.

• In a big saucepan over medium warmth, soften the butter. Add the drained rice and lentils and toss till well-coated.

• Add broth and convey to a boil. Reduce to low warmth and simmer, coated, undisturbed, for 30-40 minutes, till broth is generally absorbed and rice and lentils are tender.

• Remove from warmth and let relaxation 5-10 minutes earlier than fluffing with a fork. (Avoid stirring vigorously, as that creates too  creamy a texture. The rice and lentils are greatest when the grains are tender, however separate.)

• Fold in parsley and inexperienced onions, and serve.

Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 954mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g