Lentils are a highly nutritious legume dish, their main nutrient is carbohydrates, mainly starch. It also provides protein, although it is deficient in an essential amino acid called methionine. But this can be solved by combining it with foods rich in this amino acid such as rice. They are also rich in vitamins such as B1 and folic acid and minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium, phosphorus and manganese.
This information is similar for the various types of lentils, but today we will focus on the differences of 2 important varieties of them, these are the brown lentil and the red lentil.
Differences between pardina lentil and red lentil
Regarding its appearance and texture
The pardina lentil is a small, brown lentil from which its name derives. The red lentil is similar in size to the pardina lentil, however its color is different, a red that tends towards orange before cooking which changes to straw yellow when cooked.
Regarding the digestive process
The pardina lentil retains its skin like most lentils. However, red lentils do not contain skin, which helps to have better digestion than when you eat lentils with their skin. This property makes it the favorite lentil for people who do not digest legumes well.
Cooking time
The pardina lentil does not require long periods of soaking before being cooked. For example, 2 hours of soaking is enough for a cooking time of 45 minutes, otherwise it may reach the cooking time. While red lentils do not require soaking and the cooking time is very short, 15 or 20 minutes is enough.
Regarding the type of dish you can prepare
The pardina lentil is a legume that is ideal for soup; traditionally we can find it in
dishes such as the stewed lentils that we made a few weeks ago. In fact, it can be said that it is one of the most cultivated types of lentils in Spain, specifically Castilla y León.
It is also common to find it in salad dishes.
On the contrary, red lentil is a type of lentil that is almost waste after cooking, which is why it can be used to make purees or creams. Although it is also used to make express soups.
Discover the recipe to easily make red lentil hummus
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