Learn
| Inspiration | Keep your finger on the pulse
Keep your finger on the pulse
We love adding pulses and legumes to our dishes, especially in winter. Not only are they nutritious; they’re affordable, easy to use (simply open the can, drain and viola!) and they help stretch out meals to get more from what’s in the pot. We’ve gathered 8 of our favourites ways to incorporate all those good chickpeas, lentils and beans into our dinners.
Lamb and lentil moussaka
If you’re new to pulses or legumes, this is a great place to start. The flavour is gently spiced and beautifully Mediterranean while still being as approachable as lasagna.
Lamb, chickpea and coconut stew
From our friend Peter Gordon, this stew takes an almost south east Asian spin and turns a lamb shoulder into a work of art. Perfect for feeding a crowd, we love it served with mashed kumara and plenty of broccoli on the side.
Lamb meatballs and hummus
We can’t mention chickpeas without talking about their most well known application – hummus. Soft and silky, these meatballs are a great appetiser for a dinner party or a plate to bring to a pot luck. Simply serve with little toothpicks in the meatballs with the hummus underneath.
Easy Mexi Mince
That classic combo, mince and beans, is a well-known trick and for good reason. Here mince is stretched even further with the addition of black beans for a nutritious boost.
Mexican burger with guacamole and pink onions
Blended burger patties are a great way to boost your vegetable intake and these patties are a combo of beef mince, black beans and Mexican spices. Utterly delicious, especially when combined with guacamole.
Beef and lentil pies with cauliflower mash
These babies are the best! We highly recommend making them in individual portions to prevent fighting over seconds in the big dish. We also love the filling, made ahead and frozen – because who doesn’t love easy to make pies in the future?
Harira
From our lovely friend Kathy Paterson comes this traditional north African soup made with lamb and lentils. Used to break fast during Ramadan, it’s brightly spiced, flavourful and perfectly suited to a spring evening.
Steak with Lentil and Barley Risotto
A beautifully different spin on incorporating legumes, this lentil and barley risotto heroes those bold winter flavours and is the perfect backdrop to New Zealand's finest beef or lamb.
Posted by Beef + Lamb New Zealand
