If you are straining your cooked lentils, you should save the leftover liquid because it is flavorful and can be used.
Saving and Using Lentil Water
When cooking lentils for dishes like soups or dal where the lentils are strained out, the water they cooked in is not just waste. As highlighted in the reference:
- Save the liquid leftovers. The water absorbs flavor from the lentils as they cook.
- It has an earthy, savory flavor. This makes the liquid a valuable resource.
- One specific use mentioned is that the water is "so good, I'll admit, I sometimes drink it like tea." This indicates its pleasant taste.
Therefore, instead of discarding it, the primary recommendation based on the reference is to save this flavorful liquid. While the reference only explicitly mentions drinking it, its savory nature suggests potential uses in other culinary contexts where a broth or flavorful liquid is needed.
Consider saving it to:
- Sip and enjoy its earthy, savory notes.
- (Based solely on the reference, drinking it is the explicit use mentioned.)
By saving the water, you utilize the delicious remnants of your lentil preparation.
