Egg Fried Lentils

Egg Fried Lentils

Inspired by egg fried rice which is apparently a hugely popular dish in Chinese restaurants in Ireland. If you struggle to get canned lentils, consider the rice option in the variations.

The original recipe calls for green onions (shallots) but I’ve substituted flat leaf parsley to keep to our 10 ingredient shopping list.

serves 1-2

2 eggs
1 can lentils (400g / 14oz), drained
small handful flat leaf parsley leaves
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce

1. Place a medium frying pan (skillet) or wok on a medium heat. Crack eggs into a bowl and lightly whisk.

2. Add a few tablespoons neutral flavoured oil to the pan and add eggs.

3. Cook for about 30 seconds then stir the eggs to scrape the cooked egg away from the bottom of the pan and allow the raw egg to cook.

4. Add lentils and continue to stir fry until lentils are warm and the egg is cooked through.

5. Remove from the heat, add parsley and soy sauce. Taste and season with a little more soy if you think it needs it.

Prepare Ahead?

Absolutely. Just gently reheat in a wok or frying pan with a little more oil and possibly a little more soy.

Leftover Potential

Great. Will keep in the fridge for at least a week.

Variations

carnivore – fry some diced bacon in the pan before you add the eggs or toss in some cooked chicken at the end.

vegan / egg-free – skip the eggs and serve with a generous handful of sliced almonds instead.

rice – for a more classic dish. Use 2 cups fluffy cooked basmati rice that has been allowed to cool.

chickpeas– replace canned lentils with a can of chickpeas.

hot! – add in a little dried or fresh chilli.

Problem Solving Guide

watery – sounds like the lentils weren’t drained properly. It’s important to be thorough when draining the lentils. Rinsing with water may help get rid of the canning liquid.

egg texture tough or rubbery – sounds like overcooked eggs. Next time add the lentils earlier in the cooking process and remove from the heat before you think the eggs are 100% cooked. The residual heat from the pan will finish cooking the eggs.

bland? add in a little more soy sauce.

can’t find canned lentils? Try substituting rice or chickpeas as per the suggestions above. Or use home cooked lentils. Just boil lentils in water and drain, like you would for pasta. You’ll need about 250g (9oz) cooked lentils.

Serving Suggestions

Great as a spartan meal on it’s own.

Or serve as part of an Asian meal or as a rich side dish to serve with curries.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –