Why Sprouts Lentils And Beans
Sprouting legumes starts the germination process, which changes the composition of the legumes. It increases the amount of nutrients and makes the legumes easier to digest.
Lentils and beans contain phytic acid which is difficult to digest. It also hinders nutrients from being absorbed by the body. Sprouting breaks down the phytic acid and makes it easier to digestand absorb nutrients.
Sprouted lentils are packed with protein and make a healthy addition to your diet. If you are following a vegan or gluten-free diet, then having sprouted lentils, beans or legumes as part of diet helps with adding protein to your diet.
Growing up, my mom used to include sprouts in our meals regularly. Once sprouted, the levels of vitamins and minerals especially vitamin B and carotene increase. Sprouting also increases the protein content. During the process of sprouting, some of the stored starch in the legume is used up for forming the tiny leaves and rootlets and in manufacturing vitamin C.
Having sprouted lentils has a higher nutrition value and are easier to digest. They are low in calories and help in controlling blood sugar levels.
How To Cook Lentil Soup In The Instant Pot
This easy lentil soup does require a little chopping on the front end, but once you have the ingredients prepped, it is completely hands off, especially if you make it in an Instant Pot.
I first discovered the beauty of Instant Pot lentils back when I made this Instant Pot Lentil Curry.
Although the total amount of time to cook lentils in an Instant Pot is pretty comparable to the time youd need on the stove, I find that the texture of the Instant Pot lentils is superior.
I love that I never need to check or stir the lentils the entire time the soup cooks.
Why I Love This Instant Pot Lentils Recipe
Yall know how I love my beans , but I also love me some lentils. They are delicious, just as versatile and are great for meal prep, too.
I portion this recipe the same way as I showed you in my how to cook dry beans post, and freeze it in can size containers so theyre easy to swap in recipes, and quickly throw in salads during the week.
This easy green lentils recipe has been a lifesaver for me, too, since I work long hours at my day job and dont always have a ton of time to prepare myself dinnerso, yeah, I just eat it with a spoon every once in a while, too! Its so great!!
Bom Apetite!
Other recipes that are excellent for meal prepping: Salpicão de Frango | Arugula Quinoa Salad | Vegan Black Beans
Also Check: How To Defrost Ground Beef In Instant Pot
Instant Pot Lentils Faq
How much does 1 cup of dry lentils make?
One cup of dry lentils makes 2½ cups of cooked ones.
Do lentils cause gas?
Lentils contain sugars that may contribute to flatulence and bloating. If you soak your lentils before cooking, they will become easier on the digestive system.
Do lentils have to be soaked before using?
You don’t have to soak lentils prior to cooking them. However, if you are prone to stomach upset after eating lentils, soaking can greatly help your body to digest them.
Do lentils make you put on weight?
Lentils can actually help you lose weight by making you feel fuller more quickly.
Why Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot
I prefer to cook my lentils in the Instant Pot rather than using other methods because:
- It’s so fast! Using a pressure cooker to cook your lentils takes as little as just 3 minutes, depending on the type of lentil.
- No hovering over a pot on the stove – this method is almost completely hands-off.
- Your lentils end up perfectly tender every time.
- This method is perfect with or without soaking your lentils ahead of time.
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How To Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot
How to cook lentils in the Instant Pot! Includes different lentil varieties, suggested cook times, the proper water:lentil ratio, and two easy lentil recipes to make in your Instant Pot!
Learning how to cook lentils in the Instant Pot literally changed my life. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but it really took my meal prep and batch cooking game to the next level. But it wasnt always that way.
I never used to cook lentils before I got an Instant Pot. The idea of soaking them overnight, draining them, and babysitting them on the stove felt too time-consuming. Instead, I just bought canned or boxed lentils at the store.
But the Instant Pot makes it SO much easier to cook lentils, not to mention so much more flavorful. You can throw them in the Instant Pot with liquid, walk away, and come back to perfectly cooked lentils.
Over the last few years, I have cooked literally hundreds of pots of lentils, so now Im sharing all my tips on cooking lentils in the Instant Pot. And, this blog post also features two incredibly easy Instant Pot lentil recipes!
As for the Instant Pot itself, even the most basic model will cook your lentils perfectly. For most home cooks, the 6 quart DUO60 or DUO60 Plus is the best option. If you want a more recent version that has nifty features , try the DUO Evo Plus.
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This post shows you how to cook Instant Pot lentils to perfection, using either red or green lentils. A great alternative to the stove that cooks through quickly.
The Instant Pot is such a useful appliance for cooking chickpeas, black beans and pinto beans from scratch, so it should come as no surprise that it works great to cook lentils as well!
These Instant pot lentils cook quickly, but for me the true benefit is the ‘hands off’ factor. The thing I love about the Instant Pot is how you can ‘set it and forget it’- no need to stir or to watch for a pot to boil over!
Don’t forget to pin this post to save for later!
Read Also: How Long To Cook Pre Cooked Ribs In Instant Pot
How To Sprout Lentils
Published Updated September 28, 2020 By Meeta Arora | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learn how to sprout lentils at home. Sprouted lentils are a great addition to salads, sandwiches, curries, and wraps. These nutritious legumes are vegan and gluten-free too!
Sprouts are packed with flavor and nutrition and are quite easy to make at home. They are traditionally used worldwide in different cuisines in many dishes. They can be eaten as a main dish or be added to salads.
In India, it is common to sprout lentils. Sprouted lentils can be eaten raw, but most commonly they are sautéed or cooked before eating. I will share how to sprout lentils in the traditional method which takes up to 2-3 days, and also how to sprout lentils using the yogurt mode in the instant pot.
More Easy Indian Recipes And Lentil Recipes
- HAPPY NEWS! This Instant Pot Lentil Curry has become one of my most popular recipes. It turns out you all love curry flavors in the Instant Pot as much as I do . Ive also added a recipe for Instant Pot Butter Chicken, Instant Pot Chicken and Rice, AND Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala. All are super flavorful, easy, and healthy Instant Pot recipes!
Recommended Reading: How To Cook Steel Cut Oats In The Instant Pot
Also Check: Steaming Tamales In Crock Pot
Do We Need To Add Water To The Instant Pot When Sprouting Beans
When using a damp cheesecloth for sprouting, I do not add any water to the main steel insert.
You can also put the soaked beans to be sprouted directly in the colander along with ¼ cup water in the instant pot steel insert, then put on yogurt mode. That works too.
I tried the below 2 colanders when sprouting without a cheesecloth in the instant pot on yogurt mode. The one with the fine holes gave better results as it did not retain any water. The main issue with retaining water is that it can allow the growth of fungus.
Below are moth beans sprouted in the fine colander on the right in the above image. These were done in the 8 hours on yogurt mode.
How To Cook Lentils On A Stovetop
- For every 1 cup of dry lentils, you will need 3 cups of filtered water or stock.
- It is advised to take a Dutch oven or a large stock pot to cook the lentils. Bring the liquid to a boil, add salt and turmeric, and add washed lentils.
- Because lentils swell in size, you must take a pot large enough to hold them. After the liquid with lentil comes to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmering temperature and cover tightly to cook the lentils till they are tender.
- Typically, split lentils take 5-7 minutes and whole lentils take 15-20 minutes to cook till soft in stovetop method.
- Adding salt while cooking also helps to retain their shape and prevents lentils to become mushy. However, you can always add salt after cooking too.
Read Also: Can You Put The Instant Pot Lid In The Dishwasher
Spiced Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup
This is a creamy and spiced soup/stew inspired by Indian dal. It gets its natural creaminess from red lentils, which break down and mushy when pressure cooked, and sweet potatoes, which melt into the soup thanks to the high pressure of the Instant Pot.
- 1tablespooncoconut oil
- 1medium onion,diced
- 1 1/2tablespoonsfreshly grated ginger
- 1serrano pepper, diced
- 2teaspoonsgaram masala
- 1teaspooncurry powder
- 1teaspoonground cumin
- 2medium sweet potatoes,peeled and cut into large dice
- 1cupred lentils
- 4cupslow-sodium vegetable broth*
- 1 1/4teaspoonssea salt + more to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1-2teaspoonsmaple syrup
- For serving :coconut yogurt, fresh cilantro, and flatbread or rice
How To Make Lentils In An Instant Pot
Making Instant Pot lentils is one of the easier things you can make in your pressure cooker! Now that weve become Instant Pot experts, let me be the first to admit: Im all about the Quick Release. Why? Because Im impatient. If youve used your Instant Pot a lot, youll know that many recipes call for a natural release: which is perfectly well and good, except it does tack on extra time to the recipe.
Were happy to report that this Instant Pot lentils recipe is seriously quick. How long do you cook lentils in an Instant Pot? 9 minutes. Then, do a Quick Release and youre done! The only other time you have to factor in is the preheat time, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes depending on your Instant Pot. Overall, this Instant Pot lentils recipe has about 5 minutes of hands on time, and 15 to 20 minutes start to finish.
For our Instant Pot lentils recipe, we wanted to add seasonings so that you could serve these lentils as part of a dinner recipe without having to add anything more. Here are the pressure cooker lentils ingredients:
- Brown or green lentils
- Onion powder
Also Check: Frozen Ribs In The Instant Pot
How Long To Cook Lentils In Instant Pot
I like my lentils more on the al dente side, so they can hold their shape, and I can use them in salads without worrying about them turning to mush, so cooking them at high pressure for 3 minutes and a slower natural release of 12 minutes is the perfect combination for me.
Once the pressure has been released, I add in a minute or two in the Instant Pots sauté mode so that the vinegar can plump up the lentils and brighten up the flavor. If there are any uncooked lentils, I find that these few mins on sauté will cook them through just fine.
If you like your green lentils more cookedor mushieryou can increase the cooking time to 5 or 6 minutes under high pressure.
Also Check: How To Make Spaghetti In The Instant Pot
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- For an easy way to serve cooked lentils. add a tablespoon of olive oil, sea salt, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Ta-da, you have a simple and great recipe for lentil salad.
- Feel free to add other seasonings to your cooked lentils. Curry powder, garam masala, smoked paprika, or Italian seasoning are all good options.
- Cooked lentils can also be made into a complete meal by adding cooked rice or cooked quinoa, plus a simple vinaigrette dressing. See my Copycat Costco Quinoa Salad for an actual recipe.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Cook Frozen Tamales
How To Cook Red Lentil Curry In Pressure Cooker
Let’s start with gathering the ingredients. This Masoor Dal recipe uses very basic ingredients – red lentils, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chili pepper and spices to make the dal.
You can use whole or split red lentils in this recipe.
How Do You Know When Lentils Are Done
The perfect time to stop cooking lentils depends on the type of lentil youre cooking. It takes about 10-15 minutes for red or yellow lentils, up to about 30 minutes for darker varieties like green and brown lentils.
But the easiest way to tell? When theyre tender enough that they can be mashed with a wooden spoon.
Recommended Reading: How To Cook Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot
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How To Make Instant Pot Black Lentils
For this recipe, youll need a 6-quart Instant Pot . We use this because it combines sauté and pressure cooker settings, but if you dont have access to one, you can use a skillet to heat the vegetables before transferring everything to your pressure cooker.
First, rinse your lentils. Place them in a strainer and run several batches of cold water through until the water is running clear. Also, take time to sort through the lentils and remove any debris or broken pieces.
Next, prepare all of your vegetables. Wash and peel the carrot, wash and trim the celery stalk, and then dice them into uniform pieces. Peel the onion and finely dice. Finally, peel the garlic and mince.
With your simple ingredients gathered together, youre ready to start cooking. Set the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and heat one tablespoon of olive oil.
The olive oil should be shimmering when heated. Add the diced celery, carrot, and onion and cook while stirring for about three minutes. Next, add the minced garlic and half a teaspoon of salt and continue tosauté for an additional two minutes, stirring continuously, so the vegetables dont stick.
Now youre ready to add the four cups of water, half a cup of frozen green peas, and two cups of lentils to the cooked vegetables and pressure cook. Stir all ingredients together and place the lid on the Instant Pot. The valve on the cover should be in the natural release setting.
How To Make Mujadara Lentils & Rice In The Instant Pot
Lets go through the step by step recipe for Lentils & Rice in the Instant Pot. If you are new to the instant pot, check out this quick setup guide.
1 The first and necessary step to make Mujadara as a one-pot recipe is to soak the whole brown lentils. Typically brown lentils take longer to cook than rice, so soaking them is my first hack to get them to cook perfectly with the rice. Brown lentils retain their shape and have a unique taste, which you will very much enjoy in this dish.
2 Now cut half of the onions into slices and dice half of them. Heat oil in the instant pot and sauté the sliced onions and keep them aside to use as a topping later . These caramelized onions is the best part of mujadara, so please dont skip this step!
3 Now heat some more oil in the instant pot. Add the diced onions, garlic, and sauté them till they are lightly browned. Then add the spices .
4 Drain the water from the soaked lentils. Add the lentils and water to the instant pot. Let it boil for about 3 minutes. This is the second hack so we can cook this as a one-pot recipe. As the lentils take longer to cook, we give them a little head start by letting them boil.
5 Stir in the rice. Close the lid and pressure cook on Rice mode. The rice mode cooks on low pressure. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
6 Top the cooked lentils and rice with the caramelized onions. Save some for serving.
Enjoy this delicious Instant Pot Mujadara.
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