You have most likely heard of hummus; a mouth-watering Middle Eastern dip made mostly from chickpeas and oil. But like all good things there comes a time when these classic grab and go’s need to be jazzed up and reinvented which leads us onto the discussion of lentil spreads.
The concept is simple, replace chickpeas with lentils, throw in additional seasonings and you have yourself a new and improved hummus, plentiful in protein and minerals to accompany sandwiches, salads or to use as a side dip. These following recipes will have you coming back for more…so let’s get into Lentil Spreads: 5 Mouthwatering Recipes You’ll Love!
1. Olive Lentil Spread
If you love olive tapenade you will go wild for this lentil alternative. The great thing about adding lentils to this traditional spread is that it is higher in protein per serving making it excellent for vegans or vegetarians that are looking to amp up their daily protein intake. Made from beluga lentils this aromatic and salty spread is plentiful in herbs and tastes delicious spread on toasted bread.
2. Roasted Red Pepper
Sweet and succulent, adding roasted bell peppers to your lentil spread is a great way to switch up flavours. Get your peppers crackling on a fire or crisping in the oven to make a melt in your mouth dip that is utterly irresistible. Not only will you be addicted to this lentil substitute, the red peppers are packed full of vitamin C and beta-carotene for healthy skin and eyes.
3. Sundried Tomato
This impressive lentil spread features an abundance of fragrant ingredients that are sure to impress friends and family. Sun-dried tomatoes and shallots braised in coconut oil come together to make a deliciously creamy spread that shapes a natural showstopper brimming with flavour.
4. Red Lentil Curry
There is nothing better than when two cultural foods combine to create one scrumptious recipe. This Indian-inspired dish calls for red lentils and is great to eat in large portions since the lentils used are high in fiber, helping to aid digestive health. Accompanied by immune-boosting spices, cumin, turmeric and ginger, this curried dal spread is a nutritional powerhouse that makes the perfect snack or side spread.
5. Green Lentil Curry
Looking to go simple? Sometimes less really is more. If you want to replace original hummus recipes with a higher protein, vitamin-dense dip then simply switch out chickpeas for green lentils. Green lentils are dense in folate, iron, phosphorus, potassium and fiber and unlike other pre-made spreads, will not spike your blood sugar, making it an ideal replacement for store bought products.
