Lentil Ragout - French Puy lentil side dish (2024)

FAQs

Are Puy lentils and French lentils the same? ›

What Are Puy Lentils? While some use these terms interchangeably with French lentils, Puy lentils, or lentilles du Puy, are a lentil variety from a specific area of France. Grown in volcanic soil, the resulting Puy lentils have an even more peppery taste with a hint of earthy flavor.

These lentils have been grown in the region for over 2,000 years and it is said that they have gastronomic qualities that come from the terroir (in this case attributed to the area's volcanic soil). They are praised for their unique peppery flavor and the ability to retain their shape after cooking.

The best side dishes to serve with lentils are roasted vegetables, yellow rice, couscous, caramelized onions, gobi manchurian, tomato basil soup, brown rice, grilled flatbread, Greek salad, cucumber raita, quinoa, and naan bread.

Puy lentils are a type of green lentil that are specifically grown in the Puy region of central France. They tend to be thought of as a superior (and therefore more expensive!) lentil. Brown and green lentils are great to use in the slow cooker, as they won't end up turning to mush when they're cooked for a long time.

We're all about French lentils, because like the greatest boxers, lawyers, and internet trolls, they're thick-skinned. This means that these speckled, greenish-bluish-greyish orbs, also called green French lentils or lentilles du Puy, retain their shape when cooked and have a pleasant, poppy texture.

Lentilles du Puy (French Green Lentils)

They hold their shape well through cooking and have a peppery and complex flavor, and thus are great in applications where lentils are the star player. You can substitute other small green lentils in recipes, but only those from Le Puy-en-Velay, in France, can carry the Puy name.

HOW TO COOK DRIED PUY LENTILS: There is no need to pre-soak Puy lentils. Simply follow these instructions to cook to perfection in under 30 minutes: Put the lentils in a sieve and rinse them for 20 seconds under cold running water.

Pro tip: Green lentils are a great (and less expensive) substitute for the famous French Puy lentils. Good For: Like brown lentils, green lentils retain their shape well. This, combined with their strong flavor, makes green lentils ideal for salads or side dishes.

They can overcook quickly, so keep an eye on the time. Why do you add a bay leaf and piece of kombu seaweed? While lentils have a natural earthy flavor, a bay leaf and piece of kombu seaweed adds more flavor to the tiny legume.

The combination of wheat or rice with beans or lentils is referred to as complementary because they create a nutritionally complete protein.

Are Puy lentils the same as French style lentils? ›

French style Green Lentils, also known as Puy Lentils, are delightfully earthy and peppery. Fast cooking and remain whole when done. High in protein and fibre. > Delicious in salads, wraps, burgers, soups, hot pots, curries and dips.

Health Benefits of French Lentils. The distinguishing feature of French lentils is their very high content of fiber and protein. The latter constitutes about 30% of the whole content of this legume. Additionally, they are a rich source of essential minerals, amino acids, and B-complex vitamins.

Black Lentils (Beluga lentils)

Thanks to the robust flavor, these lentils pair well with meaty veggies and marinated proteins like mushrooms, tofu, and seitan. Best of all, black lentils are the most nutritious variety of lentils, boasting the highest amount of protein, plus high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.

Pro tip: Green lentils are a great (and less expensive) substitute for the famous French Puy lentils. Good For: Like brown lentils, green lentils retain their shape well. This, combined with their strong flavor, makes green lentils ideal for salads or side dishes.

Puy lentils (French Lentils) – Known by several names including Puy Lentils, French Lentils, French Green Lentils or Black Lentils, these little mottled legumes are the traditional type of lentils used when making this classic dish.

You can safely use yellow lentils in place of red lentils in your dishes because of their similar texture. They will become soft and disintegrate, thickening your stews, soups, and curries.

With both lentils and split peas coming from the legume family, they can be used almost interchangeably. Although they look alike, they're grown and cultivated in different ways. While split peas are dried field peas that have been split in half once the skin is removed, lentils are harvested as seeds.