Great Value Lentils, 4 lb

Lentils are one of the most versatile and budget friendly protein sources out there. (3 pack) Great Value Lentils, 4 lb at $16.89 is a fantastic deal, with 12 pounds of brown lentils at around $1.40 a pound. The average price for 1 pound of brown lentils typically ranges from $1.99 to $4.99 at most standard grocery stores, or online, depending on the brand. I found them to be a very good quality, and hold their shape well if not over cooked. I usually cook lentils in my Instant Pot to keep them from getting too mushy. But I also enjoy the versatility in not just soups and stews but baked goods, as wraps, high protein flour, (when ground up) salads, and a great addition to pasta sauce and sloppy joe's, in place of or addition to any type of ground meat. I always rinse them in a colander first. There are a ton of online resources to give you ideas of how to use this very valuable protein source. Even though I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, I find these sites have some of the best recipes. Lentils have a very mild flavor so they'll take on whatever flavor you incorporate. I enjoy using broths, bouillon, taco seasonings, BBQ sauce, or tomato sauce. When opening the bags I always transfer the lentils to jars to keep them fresh and pest free. Kept in air tight Mylar bags in 5 gallon buckets with oxygen absorbers they can last up to 10-25 years. In tightly sealed jars for over 3 years. They go very well with potatoes, cabbage, carrots and any inexpensive cut of meat. I have even cooked them with cubed spam just as an "experiment" meal, and they were delicious.

Last year I bought Goya lentils in the same size package at a much higher price, the Great Value brand is the equal to it at a great savings to the customer. I let them soak overnight in a covered pan and then rinse in running water until the water is clear. Two advantages to this, the soaking helps tenderise them and reduces cooking time while removing any dust or debris from the harvesting or processing phase. They are fairly small in size, a dark brown when cooked and easily used in a variety of dishes. They can be processed into a dip like hummus or shaped into burgers with additional binders. Brown lentils have an earthy flavor, but not overpowering , while providing protein and fiber.