Why does nobody talk about how cheap lentils actually are?

I did the math on my grocery run last week and a bag of dried lentils cost me $1.49 at Aldi. That bag made like 6 meals for two people. I always thought they were bland and not worth it, but after seasoning them right I'm kicking myself for not trying them sooner. Has anyone else found a hidden cheap staple like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix9813d ago

Lentils are the ultimate cheat code if you're trying to save money and eat decently at the same time. The real hidden gem nobody talks about is using the soaking liquid from dried beans or lentils in place of broth or stock. That water gets all the flavor from the spices you cooked them with and it's basically free flavor. Also, roasting lentils in the oven with some oil and seasoning until they get crunchy turns them into a cheap snack that beats chips any day. My roommate made buffalo seasoned roasted lentils last week and we crushed the whole tray before dinner even started.

jenny_carr5213d ago

i hear you on that stock trick, @felix98, it's such a small thing but makes a huge difference (especially when you're broke and every penny counts). roasting lentils is a game changer too, i did it with curry powder once and they came out so good i couldn't stop grabbing handfuls. it's nice to know someone else gets how versatile they are, like you can literally make them savory or sweet or whatever fits your mood. my mom always told me not to throw out bean water, but i never thought to use it as a broth base until last year, and now i feel like i wasted years of free flavor. definitely going to try that buffalo version, your roommate sounds like they know what's up.