Red Lentils-Organic

Red Lentils As a Garden Plant

Red lentils do best in well-drained soil and in full sun. Red lentils are a cool-season crop and it is best to plant them 2-3 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Red lentils can be planted directly in the garden and should be spaced between 1 inch apart and planted 1-1.5 inches deep. If your garden soil is depleted of nutrients, make sure you inoculate your lentils with an inoculant before planting. Once red lentils have been planted they revitalize the soil by fixing nitrogen into the ground. Red lentils do well when planted next to potatoes, cucumbers, and herbs.

Popular uses

Red lentils (Lens culinaris esculenta) are known for their ability to thicken soups and stews, thanks to the way they break down during cooking. Because of this, red lentils are not recommended as the primary ingredient in salads because of their tendency to lose their shape when cooked. Raw Organic red lentil sprouts are noted for their slightly peppery flavor and can be used in place of celery or peppers in salads and soups.

Red lentils take around 20 minutes to cook and are essentially interchangeable with the green and brown lentils. Again, when you want a thick, nourishing, product these will do just fine. We'd recommend utilizing these red lentils in an Indian curry or stew served alongside barley, quinoa, or another favorite grain.

• Soups
• Stews
• Curries
• Sprouting

History

There is evidence that lentils may be the oldest cultivated legume in history. Archeological projects have produced artifacts dating lentils back to 8,000 to 7,000BC! Red Lentil soup is hearty and nutritious and was a staple food of the Middle East from biblical times to the present. One historical reference to red lentils is in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. In the story, Esau traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a bowl of red lentil stew and a loaf of bread with his brother, Jacob.

Health benefits

Organic red lentil sprouts are high in protein and amino acids, vitamins A, C, B complex and E, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Like all legumes, they are high in fiber, which is crucial for digestive health and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. The total fiber content of 100 grams of red lentils is an astonishing 14.2 grams, or 57% of your daily value!