Learning to love lovely lentils

I’ve discovered a perfect food.

Lentils.

Lentils are perfect because they are . . .

• inexpensive (a pound of dried lentils is $1)
• chameleon-like; lentils take on the flavor of their surroundings
• quick and easy to cook
• nutritious (protein, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins)

Yes, lentils are perfect.

I made two pots of ‘Lovely Lentils’ this week after stumbling on Jules Clancy’s Stone Soup blog.

Lovely Lentils

1/2 lb of dried lentils
1 onion
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
1-2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Add dried lentils to a pot of cold water (water should cover the lentils).
2. Roughly chop up an onion and add it to the pot.
3. Bring the lentils to a boil.
4. Turn down the heat to medium and cook for 15-20 minutes.
5. When the lentils are the texture that you’d like (I like tender, but still a little firm), drain the lentils well.
6. Put the lentils back into the pot.
7. Stir in equal parts soy sauce and sherry vinegar (1-2 T).
8. Stir in a tablespoon of olive oil.
9. Add some pepper if you’d like.

Store leftovers in the fridge and reheat for an instant snack, a side dish, or breakfast. Yes, I said breakfast! After a few days of eating lentils for lunch, I woke up one morning craving lentils. Kind of crazy.

Variations: I added roasted red peppers one day and goat cheese another day.

Jules Clancy’s blog has delicious recipes and most have just 5 ingredients.

What do you think is a perfect food?