SPONSORED EDITORIAL
Lead With Lentils
Flavor, satiety, nutrition and menu versatility are key attributes of this workhorse ingredient
SPONSORED EDITORIAL
Lead With Lentils
Flavor, satiety, nutrition and menu versatility are key attributes of this workhorse ingredient
By Flavor & The Menu
February 28, 2024
By Flavor & The Menu
February 28, 2024
As today’s chefs seek to leverage every advantage from each ingredient on the menu, they are taking a new view of the big impact and versatile depth delivered by lentils. A powerful pantry trifecta, lentils convey flavor, nutrition and satiety—all at an enviable cost.
Lentils have the potential to enrich trend-forward recipes in a bevy of ways. Neutral in flavor and adaptable in texture, these pulses present innumerable opportunities for bold, complex, craveable builds. Paired with other plant foods or blended with animal proteins, lentils also attract diners who want to adopt a more plant-forward diet, without fear of sacrificing taste, texture or nutrition.
Consider the possibilities lentils can bring to just three of today’s top trending menu applications: bowls/salads, Mexican cuisine and global handhelds. Whether leaning into cuisines where pulses have an authentic and familiar tie or exploring modern mash-ups, leading with lentils can drive exciting new menu creations.
Modern Mexican
Here, in this Al Pastor Taco, whole red lentils, cooked with walnuts and mushrooms, marry well with the signature ingredients in this trending flavor system, delivering a whole-food,plant-based crumble alternative to animal proteins and analogue meats. Indeed, lentils lend themselves beautifully to the crumble format and can be used across a variety of applications, from street tacos to nachos and any other dishes that feature ground meat.
Power Bowls
Lentils are a protein star in this Chicken Street Corn Salad, a permanent menu item at Twin Peaks, the Dallas-based lodge-style sports bar chain. Developed by Director of Culinary, Beverage & Menu Innovation Alex Sadowsky, the dish delivers a high-protein, plant-forward option specially developed to appeal to the brand’s male-skewing demographic. “The lentils provide an excellent earthy background to the sweet corn, playing off each other nicely and delivering better texture, better mouthfeel and a better visual presentation,” he explains. “They add to what I like to call the ‘goodies’—all of the fun things in a salad that make it more complex and less lettuce-heavy.”
On-the-Go Global
The Lentil Banh Mi pictured here showcases the versatility of lentils across signature dishes from all around the globe, providing consumers with a familiar bridge when exploring new cuisines. In this handheld, red lentils are combined with shallots, herbs, hazelnuts and miso to produce a thick, smooth, flavorful pâté that serves as the base of the sandwich. “Lentils are incredible flavor sponges,” credits Chef James Bickmore-Hutt, Corporate Chef with Lentils.org. “They adapt well to any flavor profile they’re cooked with and have an incredible ability to meld into international cuisines.”
One Chef’s Take
“Lentils are a strong menu hack. You can leverage their health halo simply by adding them to a dish, and they are accepted by people across all demographics.”
—Chef Alex Sadowsky, Director of Culinary, Beverage & Menu Innovation, Twin Peaks
Contact our team for more recipe inspiration or to set up a working menu ideation session: [email protected] | www.lentils.org/foodservice.
As today’s chefs seek to leverage every advantage from each ingredient on the menu, they are taking a new view of the big impact and versatile depth delivered by lentils. A powerful pantry trifecta, lentils convey flavor, nutrition and satiety—all at an enviable cost.
Lentils have the potential to enrich trend-forward recipes in a bevy of ways. Neutral in flavor and adaptable in texture, these pulses present innumerable opportunities for bold, complex, craveable builds. Paired with other plant foods or blended with animal proteins, lentils also attract diners who want to adopt a more plant-forward diet, without fear of sacrificing taste, texture or nutrition.
Consider the possibilities lentils can bring to just three of today’s top trending menu applications: bowls/salads, Mexican cuisine and global handhelds. Whether leaning into cuisines where pulses have an authentic and familiar tie or exploring modern mash-ups, leading with lentils can drive exciting new menu creations.
Modern Mexican
Here, in this Al Pastor Taco, whole red lentils, cooked with walnuts and mushrooms, marry well with the signature ingredients in this trending flavor system, delivering a whole-food,plant-based crumble alternative to animal proteins and analogue meats. Indeed, lentils lend themselves beautifully to the crumble format and can be used across a variety of applications, from street tacos to nachos and any other dishes that feature ground meat.
Power Bowls
Lentils are a protein star in this Chicken Street Corn Salad, a permanent menu item at Twin Peaks, the Dallas-based lodge-style sports bar chain. Developed by Director of Culinary, Beverage & Menu Innovation Alex Sadowsky, the dish delivers a high-protein, plant-forward option specially developed to appeal to the brand’s male-skewing demographic. “The lentils provide an excellent earthy background to the sweet corn, playing off each other nicely and delivering better texture, better mouthfeel and a better visual presentation,” he explains. “They add to what I like to call the ‘goodies’—all of the fun things in a salad that make it more complex and less lettuce-heavy.”
On-the-Go Global
The Lentil Banh Mi pictured here showcases the versatility of lentils across signature dishes from all around the globe, providing consumers with a familiar bridge when exploring new cuisines. In this handheld, red lentils are combined with shallots, herbs, hazelnuts and miso to produce a thick, smooth, flavorful pâté that serves as the base of the sandwich. “Lentils are incredible flavor sponges,” credits Chef James Bickmore-Hutt, Corporate Chef with Lentils.org. “They adapt well to any flavor profile they’re cooked with and have an incredible ability to meld into international cuisines.”
One Chef’s Take
“Lentils are a strong menu hack. You can leverage their health halo simply by adding them to a dish, and they are accepted by people across all demographics.”
—Chef Alex Sadowsky, Director of Culinary, Beverage & Menu Innovation, Twin Peaks
Contact our team for more recipe inspiration or to set up a working menu ideation session: [email protected] | www.lentils.org/foodservice.
