Lentil Love!

Although beans in general are common foods in Ayurveda, lentils are considered to be nutritional powerhouses. They are full of fiber and protein, and more importantly, when they are properly cooked they are very easy to digest.

I also love to cook with lentils because they are the quickest bean to soak and prepare. Lentils usually do not need to be soaked at all, unlike other dried beans which might take 2 to 3 hours of soaking time. They also cook down in 20 to 30 minutes, whereas other types of beans might take 40 to 60 minutes.

My favorite lentil recipe is for Lentil Loaf, a recipe that was given to me by my Mom. It is a hearty and healthy alternative to meatloaf.

2 cups green or yellow lentils (cooked for 30 minutes)
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 bunch scallions, chives or parsley
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp. Bragg's liquid aminos or tamari
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and place in a greased loaf pan or casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes.

Serves 6.