Lentils - a plant that belongs to the legume family. Small, flattened seeds on both sides are eaten. Residents of Ancient Greece, Egypt and Babylon already knew about lentils - soups, cereals, chowder from its grains often were on their table. Yes, and in medieval Russia such food was very popular, and people lent special bread from lentils. For a long time, Russia was the largest producer of this type of bean.
Useful lentils. Calorie content. Beneficial features
Lentils, whose calorie content in raw form is about 290-320 kcal / 100g, rightfully refers to dietary products. This statement may seem controversial, because 320 kcal is not so little. The secret is that with any heat treatment, its energy value decreases, and the finished lentils, whose calorific value after cooking decreases to 110-120 kcal, is undoubtedly a dietary product. Moreover, like all legumes, quite satisfying. By the way, useful properties, unlike calories, do not decrease after heat treatment. And lentils really have a lot of them.
Dishes from it just need to be included in the diet of a person with diabetes - porridge or soup from lentils twice a week will help reduce blood sugar. Do you suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, urolithiasis, are there problems with the digestive tract? Eat lentils - it will help you deal with ailments.
Dishes from it strengthen not only the body, it is recommended to use it in the presence of nervous disorders, as well as to strengthen immunity and increase the general tone of the body. Prevention of cancer, normalization of the genitourinary system - all these are the properties that lentils have. Calorie content is low, and the content of potassium and iron is quite large, which indicates the usefulness of this plant for the process of hematopoiesis.
The most valuable isoflavone, vitamins, fiber, trace elements, amino acids - all this is necessary for a person, and this is in lentils. Folic acid, along with the above beneficial substances that make up lentils, is especially necessary for a pregnant woman and a developing fetus.
On sale you can see lentils in different colors: green, brown, red lentils. You can find black grains and French lentils with a "marble" black and green texture.
From this plant not only cereals and soups are prepared. Salads and side dishes, stews, meatballs and pie filling - everywhere lentils are in place. And in combination with tomatoes, onions, carrots and garlic, seasoned with spices, it can even claim the title of a delicious dish. It is useful to know that red lentils are most suitable for soups, as it boils quickly.
Take a simple recipe: cut a small onion into cubes and fry in vegetable oil, add 1 cup of washed lentils to the onion, then darken everything for another 2–3 minutes. Put everything in a pan, pour 1.5 liters of water. Cook for 20 minutes until the lentils are cooked. Add 5 diced tomatoes and chopped garlic (3-4 cloves). Salt, sprinkle with pepper and your favorite spices. Let it boil for a couple of minutes - and the dish is ready. If desired, you can add a little lemon juice, and before serving, decorate the dish with herbs. The soup will turn out delicious, and, like all lentil dishes, very healthy.