Why You Should Be Eating Lentils
If you’ve been following me for a while you might notice that I use lentils in a lot of my recipes. If you are vegan or thinking about switching to a more plant based diet you might be concerned about making sure you are getting enough high quality protein.”Where do you get your protein from?” is usually the first thing people ask me about when I tell them I eat mostly plant based meals. Lentils have been a long time source of plant based protein and are super versatile, that’s why I’ve spent so much time finding different ways to cook them up. I really like using Bob’s Red Mill Lentils as they offer both red and green versions of the grain legume. If you’re looking for other ways to use lentils, here are some of my other favourite recipes:
Vegan Bean + Lentil Chili Red Lentil Hummus Dip Red Kidney Bean + Lentil Curry
Like I said super versatile! Before you know it you’ll be putting lentils in everything!
Coconut Milk Dream
I used coconut milk in the recipe not only because of its dreamy creamy texture, but also because it’s a great vegan substitute for dairy and has a list of health benefits. Coconut milk comes from the white meat found in old brown coconuts. This is not to be confused with coconut water, which comes from young green coconuts. The fatty meat of the coconut is mixed with water and ground up to produce “milk”. Just one cup of coconut milk contains:
22% of the RDA of Iron 10% of the RDA of Folate 22% of the RDA of Magnesium 18% of the RDA of Potassium
Coconut milk is also high in saturated fats called medium-chain triglycerides, better known as MCT’s. You’ve probably heard of MCT oil, which usually comes from coconut oil. Unlike longer-chain fats, MCT go straight to the liver where they are processed into energy instead of potentially being stored as fat. Coconut milk is also high in calories though so it is always good to consume everything in moderation.
Lentils have long been a favourite in the vegan community and it’s about time to make them mainstream! They are super easy to prepare and can be used in every season. For your next gathering this winter, whip up this lentil casserole for a warm, cozy, nutrient rich dish that all of your friends and family will love. Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill
