Great Value Red Lentils, 1 lb

Lentil soup is probably my family's favorite easy, healthy dinner, and these Great Value red lentils are wonderful. They're always fresh and don't have a lot of "dust" in the bag like some legumes/pulses develop when they've been on the shelf for awhile. I generally start with some hot avocado oil and a double-handful of chopped onion, celery, fresh pepper, and garlic. After those things have softened up, I increase the heat to high, add about 2 quarts of water, a couple of those big Knorr bouillon cubes (chicken, tomato with chicken, or beef), a pod of dried cayenne pepper, and a big sprinkle of black pepper, and when the water comes to a rolling boil, I add my lentils. I stir the boiling pot for about a minute then decrease the heat to low-medium, cover, and let them simmer, stirring regularly to keep them from sticking together and adding water as needed to keep them from getting too dense. Once the lentils are tender, I remove the pod of hot pepper and use my immersion/stick blender to blend the soup to a smooth, creamy consistency. It's incredibly delicious and super-healthy with loads of protein, fiber, and some other important nutrients. Season them any way you like, and note: lentils make a great bean dip/hummus-like snack to eat with chips or toasted pita bread!!

Egyptian lentils! I rinse and sort these and they are clean without unusable one. What a surprise to seen they have become mainstream. Years ago they used to be a specialty item. Great taste, very versatile and nutritious whether as a side dish, in soups. or stews.