Have you got guests coming over to eat a meal or to watch a film? You’re in luck as I have the perfect recipe for a spicy lentil dip that can be used as a snack or as part of a starter.
Lentils
Lentils are a great choice if you wish to boost your health through the foods you eat. From lowering cholesterol within your body to protecting against colon cancer, lentils are known by many as a superfood because they contain high levels of protein, iron, fibre, calcium and other nutrients yet are very low in fat. This spicy lentil dip is full of nutrients!
Different types of lentils
There are four main types of lentils, and each is better for certain types of dishes.
Black lentils
These are also known as beluga lentils, are earthy, meaty and packed full of flavour, bearing a resemblance to black beans.
Brown lentils
These are another mild variety of lentil, but these do taste a bit meatier. They are known as an all-rounder as they are so versatile. They do take significantly longer to cook through, around 35-40 minutes in total.
Green lentils
These have a slightly peppery taste, so they are perfect for use in a side dish as an accompaniment for meat (I take my family’s word for that as I’m veggie) or as the star attraction themselves (that’s what I’m talking about!). Puy lentils are a variety of green lentil, grown in the Le Puy area of France.
Red and yellow lentils
These are usually mild and sweet. Most commonly found dried in packets, they only need a quick rinse before use in recipes, taking around 15 to 20 minutes to cook fully.
You may find the texture takes a bit of getting used to as they can become mushy, but they are perfect for adding bulk to dishes, such as soups, stews and even pasta sauces like Bolognese (they blend in brilliantly with the mince if you have fussy eaters in your household). Split red lentils are the type that works best in my spicy lentil dip.
My Spicy Lentil Dip
If you are looking for a dip with a kick, then this is for you. The medium curry powder will warm your mouth, so it’s an excellent choice for both a winter’s evening and an alfresco summer’s night when the air begins to chill.
I like this with a selection of crudites, like carrot sticks, cucumber, red pepper and broccoli or cauliflower florets. Be sure to use fresh vegetables for this, though; otherwise, the flavour is impaired.
Enjoying this dip for weight loss
If you follow Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count the ingredients within this recipe in your allowances. A low-calorie tasty dip for all the family.
It is of course important to check yourself any plan you follow and remember all nutritional information and ingredients are found in the recipe card below.
Other recipes you might enjoy
If you like dips then be sure to check out my dip directory full of all my tasty dip recipes perfect for any BBQ or party! The selection includes a vegan red pepper dip, tangy chilli salsa, coleslaw, and red pepper houmous.
You might also like to check my BBQ guide and see if there are any new BBQ foods you might not have considered before like falafel burgers, pork burgers, cajun chicken and sticky chicken. I also have a guide to healthy meat choices if that helps too.
If you go to a Slimming World group and need ideas for foods for a taster session or perhaps you are organising a healthy party then this article has lots of good ideas you may find helpful!
A few other recipes I think you will love are:
If you have a newfound love for lentils, why not substitute them for mince in a recipe and see what you think? Alternatively, my lentil and vegetable moussaka might be a good recipe to try next or my lentil soup?
Weight loss and Exercise Support
I have a lot of weight loss guides and support if you want to exercise including if you have a condition like fibromyalgia.
Have a good look around and see how I can help you achieve your weight loss goals. Request my free resources to get you started too!
Healthy spicy lentils dip recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Easy hob recipe
- Cuisine: Party
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
This easy spicy lentil dip is full of flavour and nutrition for a perfect addition to any dips selection at a buffet or party
Ingredients
Instructions
First, rinse the lentils, then place them in a lidded pan and bring to the boil.
Continue boiling, lid off, for around 10 minutes.
Replace the lid, cooking for a further 20 minutes until the lentils are a very sloppy consistency.
Using a fork, purée the lentils.
Allow the mixture to cool; meanwhile, dry fry the curry powder and cumin for 1-2 minutes.
Finally, mix the spices with the lentils.
Allow it to cool thoroughly before chilling.
While this dip is best eaten on the day it has been prepared, it can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.
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