I'm lucky to have a sister who loves cooking even more than I do. She's currently attending the French Culinary Institute and has sent over some seriously inspired, health-conscious recipes. I just got the below lentil recipe from her and cannot wait to try it out! While lentils are higher on the caloric scale if you eat a lot of them, 1/2 a cup is only about 115 calories- a great side to a simple chicken dish or the perfect pairing with some broccoli. Try the below and I promise you'll be left feeling super satisfied!Lentils: Lentils are a powerhouse when it comes to nutrients & vitamins. First off they're an excellent source of fiber which, as I mentioned in my Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, is great for lowering overall cholesterol & also in aiding in the process of elimination.
Lentils also offer almost 90% of your RDA of folate. Why is folate important? Folate is a B Vitamin and is necessary for the formation of red blood cells as well as for the metabolism of proteins. It is especially important for pregnant women because of it's role in the formulation of genetic material in every cell in the body and it's role in the prevention of neural tube defects.
Because folate is a water soluble vitamin (Meaning it is not stored in your body it is used as needed then eliminated), it is important to make sure you continually incorporate it into your diet.
Marissa's Awesome Lentil's
1) cook and drain lentils (enough to serve 2 people)
2) put lentils back in pan and add about 1/4-1/3 cup chicken stock and 1 tbs Olive Oil
3) reduce till almost no liquid left
4) once chicken stock is reduced add 1/2 cup red wine and reduce that until no liquid is left
5) add 1 tbs plain yogurt and chopped fresh mint leaves
Season to taste with Salt & Pepper and enjoy a super satisfying side dish!
