red lentils experiment

[DrRichardCranium]

When I cook one of those Lipton sides it says to simmer for 12 or 15 minutes. But I like to save fuel, so I boil for one minute, turn off the stove, then put an insulator on my cookpot and wait for 15 minutes, and that does the job.

So I tried an experiment with red lentils. Red lentils are smaller than brown lentils and therefore, would cook faster.

I tried boiling 1/4 cup of red lentils in 1/2 cup water for 2 1/2 minutes, then put the insulator on for 20 minutes. The were not quite cooked all the way through.

Then I tried putting 1/4 cup red lentils in 1/2 cup water and let it soak for a few hours in a tupperware container. When I boiled it, it actually cooked in about 3 minutes.

I am trying to find a recipe I saw once in a backpacking book that had red lentils, bulgur wheat, apple chunks, and curry powder, and I want to see if I can make it with minimal boiling time.

[Odd Man Out]

I cook brown lentils on the trail. I mix with basmati rice, salt, oil, and curry. Bring to boil. Put pot in pot cozy. Let set for 15 to 20 minutes. Eat. They are not cooked until mushy, but they are plenty rehydrated. I use basmati rice as it cooks faster than regular rice. No need for "instant" rice. I'm sure red or yellow lentils would also work great. I don't soak them in advance.

[squeezebox]

So you are saying basmati rice cooks faster than other rice ??

[HeartFire]

cook it at home and dehydrate - then just boil the water and add to the ziplock and let soak 10 minutes. No messing around, no dirty pot to wash

[Odd Man Out]

So you are saying basmati rice cooks faster than other rice ??

Yes, that's been my experience. Plus it tastes awesome.

[russb]

So you are saying basmati rice cooks faster than other rice ??


Yes, that's been my experience. Plus it tastes awesome.


I agree. One other observation is it uses less water than "regular" rice. That probably is why it cooks faster.

[Odd Man Out]

I agree. One other observation is it uses less water than "regular" rice. That probably is why it cooks faster.

Could be I haven't been too particular about getting the liquid level perfect in my meal mixes. I usually try to have have a bit too much water than too little. If you have too little, the food will come out a bit crunchy. With too much, I just call it stew or soup and eat it.

[Wise Old Owl]

I am with Heartfire on this and instant rice delivers zero nutrition. Try to find how many calories you are trying to deliver, some items are not worth bringing. Red lentils is aprox 14 calories per tablespoon. Well worth the experiment... I like this!

[HeartFire]

I made a delicious red lentil curry with rasins and cashews. cooked it all up at home, dehydrated it and had it on the trail - I'm usually eating my dinner before many others even have water boiling (I use a jet boil)

[78owl]

I made a delicious red lentil curry with rasins and cashews. cooked it all up at home, dehydrated it and had it on the trail - I'm usually eating my dinner before many others even have water boiling (I use a jet boil)

Heartfire; I'm in Black Mountain, I can smell it from here. I like your idea of cooking first, dehydrate, then heat nd eat. Simple.

[HeartFire]

http://www.theglutenfreevegan.com/2012/04/red-lentils-with-cashews-kale/
I added the rasins to it.

[Old Hiker]

I am with Heartfire on this and instant rice delivers zero nutrition. Try to find how many calories you are trying to deliver, some items are not worth bringing. Red lentils is aprox 14 calories per tablespoon. Well worth the experiment... I like this!

Sorry to jump in, but not sure where your "zero nutrition" comes from:

http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/rice-white-cooked-instant

vs. REGULAR white rice (right side of the screen):

http://www.bing.com/search?q=calories+in+rice&qs=n&form=QBLH&pq=calories+in+rice&sc=8-15&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=e80d6bf95f45473988fb7711400a0411

vs. basmati rice:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/calories-in.asp?food=basmati+rice

Instant rice has usually been a staple with me - I add a can of chicken or tuna, depending on what I have.

[rocketsocks]

Sorry to jump in, but not sure where your "zero nutrition" comes from:

http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/rice-white-cooked-instant

vs. REGULAR white rice (right side of the screen):

http://www.bing.com/search?q=calories+in+rice&qs=n&form=QBLH&pq=calories+in+rice&sc=8-15&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=e80d6bf95f45473988fb7711400a0411

vs. basmati rice:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/calories-in.asp?food=basmati+rice

Instant rice has usually been a staple with me - I add a can of chicken or tuna, depending on what I have.
too funny, this was my next stop with one of those very links. :D

[Old Hiker]

too funny, this was my next stop with one of those very links. :D

Awwww, I shouldn't have done it. Sorry to steal your thunder.

I always have to add a LOT of spices to the rice to get it somewhat flavorful.

[rocketsocks]

Awwww, I shouldn't have done it. Sorry to steal your thunder.

I always have to add a LOT of spices to the rice to get it somewhat flavorful.
I have no thunder...but I do have some snap!

[Wise Old Owl]

Sorry to jump in, but not sure where your "zero nutrition" comes from:

http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/rice-white-cooked-instant

vs. REGULAR white rice (right side of the screen):

http://www.bing.com/search?q=calories+in+rice&qs=n&form=QBLH&pq=calories+in+rice&sc=8-15&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=e80d6bf95f45473988fb7711400a0411

vs. basmati rice:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/calories-in.asp?food=basmati+rice

Instant rice has usually been a staple with me - I add a can of chicken or tuna, depending on what I have.


Thanks, I went off memory from the back of a bag of the crap - I guess I just hate it... Honest mistake...


How you doing RS?

[rocketsocks]

doin great!

[Del Q]

OK, love lentils................how would you use them with no-cook mode?

If I soak them all day in a zip loc bag with spices, what will dinner look like?

[rocketsocks]

OK, love lentils................how would you use them with no-cook mode?

If I soak them all day in a zip loc bag with spices, what will dinner look like?
toss em with vinagar and oil and some fresh onion for a cold bean salad...good stuff.

[Odd Man Out]

Maybe it would be better to describe rice as "empty calories" as it is pretty much just starch. But when hiking, calories is what I need. Rice has a some protein, but it's incomplete. Lentils are rich in protein that is also incomplete. But when mixed together they complement each other. The amino acid missing in legumes is found in rice and the amino acid missing in rice is found in legumes. Lentils are also a good source of fiber. I also mix in some olive oil (more calories). Other things you add (curry, raisins, etc) give some extra nutrition.

[DrRichardCranium]

To odd man out: I did exactly what you described, and the red lentils, though chewable, were undercooked. If you eat undercooked legumes you won't absorb as much nutrition from them, and the bacteria in your lower intestine have to do more chemical reactions, producing more gas. Pre-soaking the lentils made them cook thoroughly in less than 3 minutes.

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[Another Kevin]

I home-dehydrate lentils often. I like dal bhaat tarkari on the trail. (It's what keeps the Sherpas going! I do draw the line short of green tea with salted yak butter.)