One of my favorite tips on my 50 Frugal Tips for ADHDers blog post is Lentils and Quinoa.
I feel great when I eat either of these meals. Quinoa and Lentils are both healthy and easy to feel good being frugal about.
We’ve included a few quinoa and lentil recipes below for lentil meal ideas.
Here are a few FAQs about lentils and quinoa:
Are Lentils a complete protein?
No lentils are not a complete protein.
Is quinoa a complete protein?
Yes, quinoa is a complete protein.
Are Lentils Vegetables?
Yes, lentils are vegetables.
Is quinoa a vegetable?
No, Quinoa is a seed classified as a pseudograin grown for its edible seeds.
How to Cook Quinoa on the Stovetop
Rinse measured dy quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold water for about a minute or until the water runs clear.
The Ratio of Quinoa to Water
1 quinoa to 2 water or slightly less to preference.
You can use water, vegetable broth, or chicken stock.
Let the quinoa rest for 7-10 minutes
Step 1. Combine quinoa and cooking liquid + a pinch of salt into the pot with a tight lid.
stir and bring to boil on medium-high for 3-4 minutes
at first boil, simmer on low.
Quinoa Simmer Times
- Tri-color Quinoa —18 minutes
- Red Quinoa — 18 minutes
- Black Quinoa — 20 minutes
- White Quinoa — 15 minutes
Quinoa is complete when the liquid is absorbed and some seeds have popped open.
Quinoa Rice vs Brown Rice
Both quinoa and rice are naturally gluten-free.
Quinoa is high in fiber and minerals like
- zinc
- manganese
- iron
- magnesium
- phosphorous
with a dash of
- calcium
- potassium
- selenium
Brown Rice is a good source of minerals like
- selenium
- manganese
- phosphorous
and has a bit of
- copper
- calcium
- zinc
Downside of Brown Rice
The downside of brown rice is that it has higher levels of arsenic. We can rinse well to help reduce this, but it probably won’t eliminate it all.
Going with quinoa and lentils in recipes can benefit your nutrition.
How to Use Lentils
Mix lentils with quinoa and or vegetables cooked soft or chopped fine.
How to Eat Lentils
Chicken and Lentils
Chicken Soup Lentils
- 10 cups water
- 1 lb lentils
- 1 lb bone-in chicken
- 1 large carrot
- 1 large onion
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh dill diced
Sauté the chopped onions and carrots in a large pot with olive oil.
Add in:
- chicken
- lentils
- bay leaves
- cumin
- salt
- pepper
Add water and bring to boil then simmer for 40 minutes.
Garnish with chopped dill or cilantro.
Remove from heat and serve.
Spicy Lentils Soup
- 8 c veggie broth
- 4 c baby spinach
- 2 carrots diced
- 2 celery ribs chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 yukon gold potatoes peeled and diced
- 110 oz can diced tomatoes
- 14 oz lentils, drained
- 1 onion
- 3 t olive oil
- 1 t curry powder, cumin, oregano
- .5 turmeric, crushed red pepper
- salt + pepp
Soften onions, carrots, and celery in oil in a saucepan
Add garlic and dry spices, cook for 2 minutes
add potatoes, tomatoes,lentils, veggie broth, bay leaves
Bring to boil, reduce to simmer for 60 minutes
remove bay leaves, add baby spinach, add seasoning to taste.
serve hot.
Ham Bone Soup Lentils
Grab a loaf of French Bread and a hamoe. bone and we’ll get this soup on the road!
- 1 lb green lentils
- 4 c water
- 4 c chicken broth
- 1 T olive oil
- 2-3 carrots, sliced
- 2-3 celery ribs, sliced
- 1 meaty ham bone
- 2 t garlic power
- 1 t ground cumin, paprika, dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- salt + pepp
- fresh parsley minced for garnish
Meaty Ham Bone leftovers, ham hank, or ham hock.
Rinse Lentils well and simmer in the cooking liquid until tender.
Instant Pot:
Heat oil on sauté, then add carrots, celery, and onion until translucent.
Add broth, water,lentils, ham bone, spices, bay leaf.
Secure the lid, close pressure valve, cook at high pressure for 35 minutes.
Natural pressure release
Remove ham bone and bay leaf
return chopped ham to instant pot
Salt + Pepp
Parsley
Perks of Ham Bone Lentil Soup:
Even Better Day 2
Freezes Well in Portions
Lentils with Vegetables Recipe
Any of these veggie recipes will work well with lentils and quinoa.
Cabbage and Lentils
- .5 head cabbage (napa)
- 1 onion diced (yellow)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 thai green chili pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 c cooked red lentils
- 1.5 c Cooked Rice
- 2 T olive oil or (avocado oil)
- 3 T red curry paste
- 2 T sesame oil
- 1 T soy sauce
- 1 can Coconut milk
- 1 c broth
- 1 T fresh cilantro
- 1 t red chili flakes
- .5 t ginger powder
- salt + pepp
Quarter the Cabbage lengthwise
Heat oil and char wedges in a cast iron pan
Take wedges out and heat sesame oil over medium
Add onion, garlic, red curry paste, & ginger powder
Add lentils, coconut milk, broth and soy sauce. mix to combine.
Add cabbage wedges back into pot and press them into the liquid.
Stir and cook down for 2-3 minutes
Add cabbage back into the pot
Bring to a simmer, cover, and place in oven for 30 minutes.
Remove lid and cook for another 30 minutes
Serve over hot rice with cilantro garnish
Potatoes and Lentils
- onion
- potatoes
- carrots
- celery
- garlic
- green lentils
- diced tomatoes
- broth
- Italian seasoning
- fresh rosemary, parsley, basil
- salt + pepp
Peel & Chop Vegetables
drain and rinse lentils
Saute onions, celery, and carrots
add garlic and spices
saute 1 min until fragrant
add diced tomatoes with juices, diced p, lentils, and broth
bring to a boil then simmer on 2 and cover for 15 – 20 minutes until tender
Leftovers in fridge (1 week) or freezer (1 month)
Slow cooker instructions:
Add all ingredients, cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
Eggplant and Lentils
Cook Lentils and Quinoa Together
Heat up olive oil in a large pan.
Add and sauté onion and garlic until onions are tender.
Add sliced mushrooms and continue cooking until the juices are released from the mushrooms, about 5 – 8 minutes.
Add Quinoa and Lentils, along with broth, thyme, and salt.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cover your pot for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender
Add sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drained) and spinach. Stir until spinach wilts down.
Add vinegar or lemon to help balance the dish with acid.
Breakfast with Quinoa
Quinoa in Cereal
Granola Quinoa
Quinoa Chia
Rinse Quinoa under cold running water until it runs clear. Drain well.
Put quinoa, steel cut oats, and chia seeds in a bowl, addwater, cover and soak in the fridge for8 hours
Transfer mixture to sauce pan with a pinch of salt
Bring to a boil, stirring.
Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, stirring a few times.
Add water to desired consistency
Serve with topping of choice
Breakfast Quinoa Bowl
Banana Bread with Quinoa
Gluten-free banana bread with quinoa flour
- 4 small bananas, mushed
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1.5 – 2 cup quinoa flour
- .5 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp stevia or 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cocoa powder (optional)
- .5 tsp vanilla
- .5 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 350 on oven, cook for 60 minutes.
- 30 minutes —> cover top with tin foil to a void burning
Salmon and Quinoa Dish
Salmon Quinoa Salad
Ground Beef Quinoa
Quinoa Broccoli Bites
- 2 crushed cloves of garlic
- 1 broccoli crown
- .5 cup quinoa
- 2 heaping tbsp flour
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
- lemon juice
- salt + pepp
Boil water in large saucepan.
Coursely chop broccoli and some stalk, simmer until soft then drain and set aside
Cover quinoa with 1 cup water in saucepan, bring to boil and cover, reduce to a simmer until all water is absorbed.
Finely chop brocc, combine with quinoa, garlic, seasoning, oil, lemon juice and sprinkle with nutrinoal yeast and flour. mix until it can be formed into small patties
Heat oil over medium in a heavy bottom frying pan.
Make patties about 1.25 tbsp each. roll then flatten.
Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side and keep warm in a low oven.
Quinoa with Lemon
Quinoa Lemon Dressing
Chicken Lemon Quinoa Soup
Quinoa Artichoke Salad
Step 1. Cook 1 c quinoa
Step 2. Mix the quinoa, artichokes, tomato, and lemon zest together in a bowl with olives as an option.
Step 3. Whisk together 3 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp lemon, then pour over quinoa and veggies.
Step 4. Toss, add salt + pepper, top with feta.
