One can never have enough dips. There are mild, medium and spicy salsas. Then there is Guacamole. There is even a hundred flavors of Hummus. There are fruit dips too. And a ton other. But what about lentil dips? If that does not sound good to you, try this recipe and I guarantee that it will change your mind.
I am writing this post during a time that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. The unprecendented time of COVID-19. To say the least, this has been an emotional roller coaster for all of us. Our life has been upended with working from home, home schooling children, working with minimal groceries etc. But it has also been a time of gratitude and lots of home food to feed one and all. And this brings me back to the dip.
With so many of us being at home, food and snacking varieties are needed to keep us all sane, healthy and satiated. And this dip checks all those 3 boxes. In my case, I am not much of a snacker, but my husband definitely needs his evening snack. I would much rather prepare a new variety for him everyday instead of him eating sugary, fatty cookies. This dip is so easy to prepare that even he can do it, unsupervised!
With brown lentils and cashews, the dip is a powerhouse of nutrition, and is incredibly flavorful. What more does one want from a dip? 🙂 This recipe was born because I got tired of Guacamole and Hummus. I really needed something different from a texture and flavor standpoint.
This recipe uses brown lentils. In general, lentils are amazing sources of plant-based protein and fiber. And this recipe gives you another way to eat lentils, other than the regular dal-chawal. This recipe also uses cashews, which also have great protein content along with beneficial mono-unsaturated fats and several beneficial minerals.
The best thing about this recipe is that using the same base, you can alter the flavor using different spices, herbs or other additives like seeds. Apart from the cook time for the lentils, this recipe comes together in 10 minutes.
Serve it with pita bread, crackers, chips or veggie sticks for your next evening snack or pre-prepare it as a portable appetizer dip for a party. This recipe will not disappoint, I promise 🙂
| Prep time | 10 minutes | |
| Cook time | 15 minutes | |
| Serves | 2 cups |
Ingredients
Legumes
- Brown Lentils – 1/2 cup, uncooked
Nuts and Seeds
- Roasted Cashews – 10-12 (Unsalted)
Spices and Herbs
- Cilantro – A handful
- Red Pepper Flakes – 1 tsp
- Fresh Ginger – 2 inch piece, grated or finely chopped
- Garlic – 1/4 tsp (optional)
- Salt – A pinch
Oils
- Olive Oil – 2 tsbp for grinding + 2 tbsp for garnish drizzle
Ingredient notes
- The brown lentils can be substituted with green lentils
- Use any herb of your choice
- Add any other spice of your choice for additional flavor
Method
- Wash the brown lentils thoroughly. Add 1 1/2 cups of water. Place in Instant Pot. Close the lid and the move the pressure valve to sealed position. Select the pressure cook mode and set the time for 12 minutes. Once done, allow the pressure to naturally release before unsealing the pressure valve. Allow the cooked lentils to cool prior to using. You can cook the lentils in a pressure cooker too for 2-3 whistles
- Once the lentils have cooled, add all the ingredients to a blender. Blend until you achieve the desired consistency. My preference is a chunky dip, so I did not blend for smoothness, but feel free to blend until you achieve a smooth consistency. Make sure to add a little more olive oil to achieve the smoothness
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Either chill or drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately
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Food For My Love 