The jar in your kitchen cabinet filled with lentils might be sitting ideal while you go through the options of what to cook. Well, let us roll back to that lentil jar once again and think, why our mother or grandmother always used to say to have that bowl of lentil its good for your health. Mothers are always right, and that lentil is a real superfood for your heart and your health.
Why boosting immunity today is important than ever for your heart and overall health?
As the world stands agitated to the recent COVID-19 crisis, it is evident that immunity plays a major role in keeping you safe from diseases. As lockdowns ad social distancing is now a common scenario, we have time to think about our immunity. Boosting immunity lies in your hands with the right balance of diet, being physically active, and taking care of risk factor can turn the wheel on your side. So, let’s try with diet first of all and choose the basic ingredient every Indian family keeps in the kitchen- LENTILS
Why lentils for heart health?
Let us get the big words out. Lentils are filled with all good to keep your heart beating healthy.
Pocket full of fiber
Lentils are full of fibers and they help in lowering cholesterol levels. Low cholesterol levels directly help the heart. Along with heart benefits it even aids the digestive system.
Potassium and folic acid
These two are the friend every hypertensive need in their diet. Potassium helps decrease pressure on your artery walls. Folic acid consumption is said to not only reduce the blood pressure but also decreases the risk of stroke.
Antioxidants
Lentils are full of antioxidants like vitamins A and C. Antioxidants help fight free radicals thereby reducing cellular injury. Antioxidants even help the heart repair and rejuvenate.
Phytochemical
They are plant chemical and plant compounds that have hidden benefits on your heart health. They reduce inflammation, controls blood pressure, and even helps reduce bad cholesterol.
Immunity Booster
Well, all this goodness helps your immunity stay stronger than ever. Immunity-boosting essentials like iron, zinc, and vitamin B6 fill all the types of lentils.
Quick tips to cook lentils tasty and healthy
The best way of using lentils is to keep them boiled and ready for use.
Lentil Salad
Chop some sweet peppers, select some tasty spices add a little cucumber and lemon as seasoning top it up with boiled lentils (prefer brown lentils) of your choice and serve it with coriander.
Lentil Soup
Boil a bowl of lentil and cook a delicious soup. In a pot heat 2 spoons of olive oil, add chopped vegetables of your choice, add boiled lentils and water. Season the soup with mixed herbs and salt to taste. Bring it to boil and relish a bowl of your happy meal with a hint of lemon juice on the top.
We are calling for the spices now
Spicy Lentils with Poached egg
Minimum chopping and full-on taste that’s all this recipe is all about. So, take those red lentils sitting on the rack and boil it with two bay leaf and some cloves. Meanwhile, chop some onions, tomatoes and coriander. In a saucepan take some butter and whirl it on the pan, add onions let them turn golden brown and then add tomatoes. Add some roasted cumin powder, salt to taste, little red pepper and let it soften for 8 to 10 mins. Drain the water from the boiled lentils and add the lentils to the saucepan. Cover the pan for 2-3 mins and keep it aside.
Now, you need some eggs. Poach the eggs carefully in already boiling water brought to simmer. Crack the eggs in the water for 3 to 4 mins.
Serve the spicy lentils with a poached egg on top sprinkle some salt and herbs of choice. Plunge into the yolky heaven of poached egg and dive into the richness of lentil while taking a big bite.
Spinach and Lentil Fritters
How can we end the section without having a fritter recipe (fritters are just the sophisticated word for the evergreen pakoras)
Well, this recipe combines two heart heroes- Spinach and Lentils.
What you need is some blanched spinach leaves, add boiled lentils (red or yellow). In a bowl mash both spinach and lentils, add chopped coriander, ginger garlic paste, salt, red pepper. Now add some gram flour, this will help bind the batter.
Heat oil in a skillet, now work in batches on the batter, and put small portions in the hot oil. Let them deep fry in the oil for a while until they turn brown. Remove the fritters once cooked and let them rest on a paper towel for a while.
Now take that serving plate put the fritters on the plate and relish them with sauce or chutney of your choice.
These were just a few of the many recipes you can make using lentils, but these grains of gold never miss on the nutritive quotient in any form that you cook them. Lentils are readily available, easy to make, a great alternative to meat in terms of proteins and pocket friendly. You can always make lentils your comfort food and a go-to ingredient in your meals. So just hook your heart on lentils and see how your lentils will love your heart back.
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