I love the ease of cooking with rice noodles when you are pressed for time but still want to make something healthy. Noodles are versatile and can be paired with almost anything from meat to vegetables and also lentils.
Lentils? Yes. In noodles? Yes. Trust me. They taste awesome. Next time you want a super simple lunch or dinner, boil up some noodles and add some lentils and whatever vegetables you have in the refrigerator.
I usually grocery shop once a week and that is on Wednesday or Thursday but if I run out of anything, at first I avoid making another trip to the store but if it is essential then I have to go, no choice. I just have to drive 10 minutes to the grocery store but I hate the long line at the cash register.
Last Wednesday night my fridge seemed empty with very few vegetables, no eggs, meat or salad. First I thought to get eggs to make scrambled eggs but then I realized I will be grocery shopping the next day and also my TV show was about to start soon. I do not wanted to miss the excitement that Jeff Probst creates when he starts the show by saying, 39 days, 20 people and 1 survivor…. I am a huge fan of “Survivor” and have not missed any episode since it started in 2002. February13, 2013 was the premier of Survivor Caramoan: Fans vs Favorites and I have two of my favorites in it, Brandon and Malcolm. I won’t go in the details of the cast but this is a show in which contestants strive to outwit, outplay and outlast each other for a million dollar prize. Although not all seasons are good but it is definitely my favorite reality show over others and Jeff is the perfect host.
So without wasting any time in thinking to get eggs or something else I quickly thought of making noodles with whatever vegetables I had. My husband and daughter like to have some protein in noodles so I thought of adding lentils. I have never added lentils in noodles before but I could not think of anything better than that. The complete dish was done from start to finish in under 30 minutes just before the show. My daughter was not very happy with my idea of adding lentils to noodles but my husband enjoyed the dish and appreciated that it was a great alternative to any meat or even mung bean sprouts.
RICE NOODLES WITH LENTIL AND VEGETABLES
Serves: 3-4
Everyone needs a quick and tasty noodle dish up their sleeves, such as this one. It is little different but tastes awesome. I used split mung but feel free to use whatever lentils you can find.
Ingredients:
- 170 g rice noodles
- 170 g green beans
- 1 carrot, roughly about 100 g
- 1 tbsp (+) tamari soya sauce
- 1 tbsp sambal olek
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp oil
- 3/4 cup split mung daal (with skin)
- salt to taste
Method:
- String the beans, peel carrot and cut them in fine strips or any shape. Mix tamari, sambal olek and rice wine vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Sift through the mung daal quickly for any unwanted stones ( usually the split ones have it). Wash and drain.
- Place lentils, water and salt in a saucepan and bring it to boil on medium heat
- In another bowl or pot soak rice noodles in hot water for 5 minutes and then drain or cook as directed on the packet.
- Let the lentils boil gently with a lid on the pot for 12- 15 minutes or until they are tender and not mushy (you will see the skin separating out).
- Immediately drain lentils in a colander and run cold water for 2-3 minutes to prevent cooking further. Discard the skin as much as you can by rinsing out in water. Transfer lentils to a bowl and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan or wok. Stir fry carrots and beans until tender and slightly crisp. Add the seasoning mixture to the vegetables. Give a quick stir.
- Add noodles, lentils and salt to taste. Mix well and serve hot.
If you watch Survivor don’t forget to tune in today for the second episode of Survivor Cararmoan: Fans VS Favorites.
Coffee and Crumpets
Ha…I didn’t have you down for a Survivor fan! I haven’t watched one episode of that show. I am not much for reality shows, I have enough reality in my life!
I’ve never added dal to noodles, but I don’t see why not? Noodle bowl looks great. I love your blue bowl.
Nazneen
Balvinder
My husband is not a survivor fan either. If I ask him to watch the show he has one answer, ” I have more interesting things to do than watch a group of people fighting for immunity idol”. Whatever… I like watching competitive game shows than actual sports.
Nazneen, Even I have never added lentils to noodles but I don’t know how the idea popped into my head. But it was good.
Liz
What a delicious., quick meal! I wish the hubby would eat lentils…I’m going to have to make 2 dinners one day soon so I can get my fill 🙂
Balvinder
We had no problem eating this dish, however my daughter clearly told me if I make this again he would not eat it. I may to make two dinners next time.
Malti Sharma
Super impressive! Did you really take the picture just before your TV show? Really, the recipe looks great- simple flavors but I bet it taste absolutely amazing together. You came up with an interesting creation 😉
I don’t get to watch much TV because there is always sports channel on but I have seen few episodes ,its good.
Balvinder
Why do all husbands watch sports? My husband and I watch our shows on separate TV. Thanks Malti for liking the dish, It was surprisingly tasty.
Sridevi Ravi
I have not thought of this combination of noodles and lentils. On the flip side, why not? Rice and lentils go so well. I have such similar situations when I want to cook without a trip to the grocery store.
Making dishes out of whatever is available needs real creativity. Good job! I have some rice noodles sitting in my pantry for a long time as I don’t appreciate its rubbery texture, so…planning to try this for a change.
Balvinder
Sri, there are variety of rice noodles but I never found them rubbery. The one you are talking about could be made from mung beans, I have got that, they give a rubbery mouth feel. Well, you are right lentils and rice go together very well and this was perfectly tasty and quick to make. Let me know if you end up trying it 🙂
cooking varieties
hi balvinder, how are you doing and hope you are fine. such a beautiliful pic, never tried this before,.
cooking varieties
hi balvinder, love this yummmy looking dish.. trying out of curiousity. thanks 🙂 i bookmarked this
Balvinder
Thank you Wan and do let me know if you ever try this one 😉
Vicki Bensinger
This sounds like a delicious, light and healthy meal. I like the addition of the sambas olek to add a bit of punch to the dish. Nice recipe!
Choc Chip Uru
Lentils and noodles is something I have never tried before but your photo looks too good to pass up 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Minnie@thelady8home
Noodles and lentils! Wah! Very innovative Balvinder, and it looks so cool too. I am not sure my hubby will appreciate it, but my younger son might, as loves anything that says ‘dal’ lol!
Balvinder
If your son can eat then I am sure your husband will love it, its mostly the kids who are fussy.
Juliana
Beautiful rice noodle dish Balvinder…looks so tempting with the split mung…
Enjoy the rest of your week 🙂
yummychunklet
What a tasty way to prepare lentils!
Nava Krishnan
This is a unique recipe but sure I will want to try out. Never made anything like this before. However I love noodles and am impressed with your recipe.
Balvinder
Thank you Nava, it was actually a very light and satisfying noodle dish I ever made.
anne
I love quick and easy dish ! That looks very appetizing 🙂 Haven’t tried lentils before but it looks really yummy in that dish ….
Blackswan
Noodles is certainly a wonderful quick-fix & adding these nutritious vegetables is a way to healthy living. Thumb-up!
Asmita
This looks amazing! I would love a big bowl of this for sure!
Soni
Love the idea of adding lentils to your noodles and the Sambal Olek too! Easy, delicious and healthy 🙂
Liz
A friend of mine makes homemade pot noodles by adding really thinly sliced veg and spices to vermicilli rice noodles and then pouring boiling water over them, cover and leave to sit for about 8-10minutes. I think they’d be lovely with a bit of tamari and sambal.
Amy Tong
What a great way to add protein in the noodles by adding lentils. I would have never thought of that! Genius. 🙂 Love this quick and easy meal. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Jenn and Seth
what a great noodle dish!! so delicious and healthy!
Katerina
I have never paired lentils with noodles. Sounds like fun!
Balvinder
I totally agree.
Deepti
Wow, Lentils and noodles seems to be a interesting combination, would love to try this recipe soon.
Jen
I made this dish tonight and thought it was very good. I didn’t want to go to the store so I used frozen peas, garlic, baby spinach, and roasted red peppers as the vegetables. I also didn’t have sambal olek so I used sriracha. Thanks for the quick easy dinner recipe!