FOOD NEWS
Turn To Your Rice Cooker For A Simpler Way To Make Lentils
BY AUTUMN SWIERS
Full of nutrients like calcium, folate, and potassium, lentils are a versatile protein that can be used in patties, meatballs, falafel, salads, or just eaten by themselves.
To cook dried lentils, rice cookers are surprisingly effective. Food in a rice cooker starts out sitting in water, then it's boiled, water is absorbed, and it's allowed to rest.
This four-step cooking process is just what dried lentils need to become tender. As a guideline, go with a 2:1 water-to-lentil ratio and stir the lentils halfway through cooking.
Yellow, brown, black, and green lentils will require a longer cooking time, whereas red or pink lentils fall apart more easily, so be sure not to overcook them.
For a flavorful replacement for water, try pouring broth or bouillon over the lentils in your rice cooker, and add garlic, chili powder, olive oil, turmeric, and/or bay leaves.