Additional information
Packsize | 10 LB |
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Spanish Pardina Lentils(Lens esculenta) have been eaten for over 8000 years. Lentils originated in Southwestern Asia along the Indus River. They are a staple food for many South Asian cultures. The Latin word for lentil, lens, was used in the 17th century to describe eye glasses. This is because of the similarity in shape between the legume and an eyeglass lens. Lentils are the seed of a small shrub. Lentils do not require soaking. Simmer 1 cup lentils with 4 cups water 12 minutes for salads, 20 to 25 minutes for main dishes. Skim the water while cooking, drain. One cup dry yields 2-1/4 cups cooked.
Packsize | 10 LB |
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The quick cooking and nutritious nature of lentils make them an obvious choice for winter soups. They are also good cooked and chilled for salads or mixed with bread crumbs to stuff vegetables. Blend lentils with middle eastern couscous and use as a bed for seafood or poultry.
Black Lentils are a very popular legume in South Asia, they are used to make a beautiful black lentil soup. Black Beluga Lentils are 1/2 cm. wide with a mild, earthly flavor and soft texture. This tiny lens shaped pulse has traditionally been used as a meat substitute (A pulse is the dried seed of any legume, such as beans and peas). Lentils are the seed of a small shrub and are dried after harvesting.
Suggested Use:
The quick cooking and nutritious nature of lentils make them an obvious choice for winter soups. They’re delicious in chilled vegetable salads, or mix with bread crumbs, minced onion and garlic to stuff roasted red peppers or eggplant.
Basic Prep:
Lentils do not require soaking. Simmer 1 cup lentils with 4 cups water 12 minutes for salads, 20 to 30 minutes for main dishes, drain. Skim the water while cooking. One cup dry yields 2 cups cooked.
Corn is the only grain whose origin can be traced to the Americas. When Christopher Columbus landed in modern day Cuba some of his crew went inland and came across maize. Corn was then brought back to Europe. In Italy Corn is most often served as Polenta. This dish comes from the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy. Polenta can carry many different flavors and is a filling, nutritious dish. Fine Polenta has a slightly less coarse grind than traditional Polenta and has a shorter cooking time.
Although commonly called Ivory White Lentils, these tiny, ivory-colored discs are not true lentils, but the white center of the Indian staple bean crop black gram (or urad dal). White Lentils have a mild, earthy flavor and soft texture when cooked. They are about 3/16 inch in diameter and are a rich source of protien.
Israeli couscous is also a type of pasta, but consists of granules that are much larger – about the size of small pearls. Made from wheat flour and semolina, Israeli couscous has a ball-like shape and is toasted, rather than dried, after the granules are formed. This process gives Israeli couscous a nuttier flavor and chewy bite that adds an unexpected touch to regional recipes.
Kasha, or buckwheat groats, is native to central Asia and was introduced to Europe by the end of the Middle Ages. Perhaps due to its long history and travel across continents, the term kasha has come to refer to a variety of cereal-type products. In America, the term refers to roasted buckwheat groats, which have a toasty, nutty flavour. In Russia, kasha is used in a broader sense for a variety of cooked grains, including buckwheat, millet and oats. Buckwheat kasha is not a true cereal, since it is not a grass. Its kernels are actually achenes, which are dry fruits similar to the seeds of strawberries. While buckwheat may be known to many, particularly as a flour in pancakes and other specialty items, this month we will focus on kasha, a nutritious and tasty alternative to better-known grains.