Who'd have thought anyone would get so excited about such a funny little pulse but green lentils should be a staple in every household, - the Puy lentil standing out like no other. Their unique, nutty flavor is attributed to the volcanic soil they're grown in, without fertilizer, which gives them their fine, mineral-rich taste. It is ensured that the lentils dry on the plant all by themselves and what a fabulous time they must have in all that glorious sunshine. This also maintains their shape on cooking unlike other lentils, which tend to turn into mush. The average green lentil does have similar tendencies although you can overcook them.

I always keep a bag of lentils in my pantry since they can be prepared really quickly and they're a great side dish, equally good served warm or at room temperature. They make a great accompaniment to everything from grilled fish to roast pork, or even vegetarian dishes, which can be so hard to make texturally interesting.