Families who plan their meals
If you prepare several portions in advance, a pack of plain dried pulses lets you choose how much to cook and how to season it. Check that the cooking time for your chosen variety fits your schedule.
Who are these formats for?
Parents short on time in the evening
If you decide on dinner at the last minute, tinned lentils save you having to cook dried pulses. A ready meal is another option, but make sure the portion and recipe suit the number of people you’re feeding.
Households looking to mix up their meals
Lentils, split peas, beans and chickpeas are all ways to vary the basis of a family meal. Preparation instructions and ingredient lists differ depending on the variety and format.
What should you look for?
Plain dried pulses to cook
Choose these: for a planned meal where you want to adjust the portions and seasoning.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to rinse and cook them. E.Leclerc gives a cooking time of 25 to 30 minutes for its green lentils.
Tinned pulses
Choose these: for adding ready-cooked pulses to an impromptu dinner.
Check: the drained weight, which tells you how much of the tin’s total contents is made up of pulses.
Ready meals
Choose these: if you’re looking for a complete recipe rather than an ingredient to cook with.
Check: the portion size and ingredients: a prepared lentil dish isn’t the same as plain lentils.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per portion | Check the pack weight and, for tins, the drained weight. Work out how much you plan to serve. | If I’m preparing several plates, I want to be able to adjust the amount to suit the meal. Around 42% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Preparation time | Check the cooking instructions or whether the product is labelled ‘ready to heat’. | When dinner is a last-minute decision, I look for an option that doesn’t need a long cooking time. Speed would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and variety | Read the product name, ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details, especially for a prepared recipe. | When I want to vary our meals, I want to know whether I’m buying plain pulses or a seasoned dish. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise ingredients and variety. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing the weight of a pack of dried pulses directly with that of a tin
The weight on a dried pulse pack refers to the product before cooking, while a tin may show the drained weight. These figures refer to different stages of preparation.
Check which weight is shown on each pack, then estimate how many portions you’ll get from your chosen product.
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Choosing dried pulses for an impromptu dinner without checking the cooking time
Cooking times vary by product. For its green lentils, E.Leclerc advises rinsing them and then cooking for 25 to 30 minutes.
Check the pack instructions before choosing a format for dinner that evening; save longer preparations for a planned meal.
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Assuming a prepared dish is the same as plain pulses
A ready-to-heat lentil dish is a prepared recipe. Its ingredients and serving size may differ from those of a pack of plain lentils.
Check the ingredients, allergens and stated quantity to see whether the product is a meal in its own right or just part of dinner.
Brands to know when comparing formats
Carrefour
The SIMPL products mentioned include 500 g packs of dried blond lentils and tinned lentils.
- Two formats to consider depending on how much time you have to prepare the meal.
- For tinned lentils, take the drained weight into account; the product mentioned lists a drained weight of 530 g.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
The range mentioned includes Notre Jardin split peas and various types of lentils.
- The different varieties let you choose a base to suit the recipe you have in mind.
- Check the instructions on your chosen pack: cooking times for one variety may not apply to others.
Auchan
The range mentioned includes several varieties of lentils, split peas and beans.
- Auchan lists 500 g packs and states that some of them provide eight portions.
- Check the quantity shown on the product you choose rather than assuming this serving count applies to the whole range.
ALDI / Fleurs des Champs
ALDI offers prepared Fleurs des Champs lentils, as well as 500 g packs of dried green lentils or white beans.
- These products include both a ready-to-eat preparation and pulses to cook yourself.
- For prepared lentils, read the ingredients and check the portion size before adding them to dinner.
Lidl / Goldensun
The Goldensun range mentioned by Lidl includes red and green lentils, split peas, white beans and chickpeas.
- A range of varieties to help you put together different meals.
- Check which variety and format are available when you make your choice.
Bjorg
Bjorg offers a 250 g organic lentil and carrot dish, advertised as ready in two minutes.
- A prepared recipe to consider when you’re short on time.
- Check the portion size and ingredients before deciding how it fits into a family dinner.
Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How much dried lentils should I allow for four people?
For its green lentils, E.Leclerc recommends 60 g of dried product per person, or 240 g for four people. Adjust the amount depending on how central the lentils are to the meal and how much you’d like to serve.
How long do dried lentils take to cook?
E.Leclerc recommends rinsing its green lentils, then cooking them for 25 to 30 minutes in four times their volume of cold water. Follow the instructions on your chosen pack if you’re using a different variety or preparation.
Which weight should I look at on a tin of lentils?
The drained weight shows how much lentils are left after the liquid has been removed. It’s useful for working out portions, but shouldn’t be compared directly with the weight of dried lentils before cooking.
What should I check on the label of a pre-packed lentil dish?
Check the product name, ingredients and allergens, net quantity, nutritional information and date shown. The DGCCRF lists these among the labelling information required for pre-packed food. They can help you tell a prepared recipe apart from plain lentils.