This red lentil dip will have you coming back for seconds, thirds, and fourths. It’s made by simply boiling red lentils and infusing them with a blend of spices, oil, and lemon juice. The result is a textured dip that can be served warm or cold!
Everyone has those few items that call your name at the store. The ones you gravitate toward when in a rush or just can’t resist, even though it’s so simple and much cheaper to make yourself. This red lentil dip is just that for me! For years it’s been on my must make list with the lentils have been patiently waiting in the cabinet, along with all the best intentions. Well today is the day my friends! The only question is, what took me so long?
Tip to make this zero waste
I’m lucky to have a store nearby with bulk options allowing limited use of reusable bags for small grocery items and veggies. Nuts, beans, rice and other grains are accessible in bins that pour into your bag, as opposed to reaching your hand in and touching a scoop. Be sure to write the tare wight on your bag so the cashier knows what to subtract. The tare weight is how much the bag weighs on it’s own. That way you are only paying for the weight of the item and not the bag itself.
SAFETY TIP: Be considerate of your community. Wash your bags after each use to decrease risk of cross-contamination.
Single-use plastics are on the rise during COVID-19. To make matters worse, many waste-management services aren’t operating at full capacity since the start of the pandemic. Both due to stay at home orders and for social distancing. While I had to lax my zero-waste efforts to some degree, there are little ways to make a concerted effort in reducing single-use plastics.
About the dip
This recipe is incredibly simple and not only zero-waste, but also low-mess! It’s all done in one pot. Simply boil the lentil and add all the spices. One important tip is to not over boil the lentils. They will continue to soak up the water as they cool, which makes a firm dip and not as easily scoopable. If that happens, add a little extra water after they cooled for your desired consistency.
You can serve these both cold and hot. Even though it’s vegan, my non plant-based friends love it just as much. We love it cold with some freshly made sourdough flatbread, veggies or homemade crackers. But it’s also fantastic over rice as a main course. I bet it would also be great on a sandwich.
Health benefits
Red lentils are low in calories, rich in iron and folate and an excellent source of protein. What more do you need to know? Hurry and make these today, you won’t regret it.
Red Lentil Dip
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tbsp dried onion flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp coriander
Instructions
- Rinse the lentils and check for stones or debris. Combine with water in medium size pot and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, lower to a low heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally, it will start to stick to the pot.
- Mix in the oil, lemon juice and spices.
- Serve warm with rice or bread, or serve cold with crackers or crudités.
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