All the red lentils surprise a good part of the lovers of the vegetables the first time they hear about them. What really differentiates them from the ones we usually eat? What benefits do they have? Let's check it out!
Are red lentils different?
The quick answer is yes. Not only because of the color but because of the absence of skin. This notorious factor has more implications than we think. For starters, they make it easier for you to digest. Undoubtedly, this can be good news for those who need the benefits of legumes but suffer from slow digestion.
Also, eating a bowl of red lentils may not be as tedious like a brown one. That is, many people love any lentil dish. However, many children find it difficult. The reason they are easier to eat comes from having a milder flavor. In fact they have fewer calories, which implies that they are less forceful.
This factor can encourage people looking to lose weight. To give you an idea: 100 grams of the red ones contain 101 kilocalories for every 100 grams of lentils. However, the conventional ones have 165. In addition, they are more satiating. And as if that were not enough, this feeling of satiety lasts over time due to the starches it contains.
What to do with them in the kitchen?
A relevant aspect to take into account in the kitchen is the cooking time. The red lentils They do not have skin and therefore are less hard. Thus, you spend much more time boiling brown lentils (45 minutes) in the pot that cooking the red ones (20 minutes). Continuing along the same path, we mentioned that the red ones are almost undone after preparing them. That is why they are widely used when preparing purees o creams.
They are also used for express soups, although it is not the most common use in the countries where it is most popular. In India it is very popular to eat Dhal. This term defines the skinless legumes that are used in traditional cuisine, as well as the dishes prepared with it. These are usually stews in which different seasonings are used depending on the region, which gives it versatility.
So now that you know the main differences between the red lentils and the brown ones… Is it worth changing to them? Of course: the biggest difference may be the price, since they are much more expensive.
