Puy Lentils

Name: Puy lentils, or lentilles vertes du Puy (Lens culinaris) — small, dark, blue-green, speckled lentils grown in the volcanic soils of the Le Puy region of the Auvergne in France, with a peppery, slightly mineral taste and a firm texture. They have a protected designation of origin.

Description

Puy lentils have been grown in the Le Puy-en-Velay area of central France since Roman times, and the region's volcanic soil and dry climate give them a distinctive flavour and thin skin. They were the first dried vegetable in France to earn an AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) in 1996, with European protected status later.

They hold their shape very well, and are valued by chefs for salads and plated dishes. Lentils sold as “Puy-style” or “French green lentils” may be grown in other places, but only those from Le Puy can carry the name.

Main nutrition value

Puy lentils are an excellent source of plant protein and fibre, and provide iron, folate, magnesium, potassium and zinc, with little fat, and they have a thin skin that holds polyphenols.

How best to be consumed

Puy lentils are cooked gently, and keep their shape.

1. Rinse, and simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes without soaking, until tender but still firm.
2. Dress warm with olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard and shallot for a salad.
3. Serve with salmon, sausages, roast chicken or goat's cheese.
4. Use in soups, stews and warm vegetable dishes.
5. Check the label for authenticity if the origin matters.

Overconsumption could cause…

Puy lentils are healthy in food amounts when cooked.

1. Bloating and gas from the fermentable carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) in pulses, particularly if you are not used to eating them, so build up gradually and drink water.
2. Allergic reactions in a small number of people allergic to legumes, and cross-reaction between chickpeas, lentils and peanuts in some.
3. Reduced absorption of iron, zinc and calcium from the phytates in dried pulses, which soaking and thorough cooking reduce.
4. Gout flare-ups in people with gout, since pulses contain moderate purines, although plant purines seem to carry less risk than those from meat.

GroupsLentilsLegume familyHigh fibreHigh proteinLow fatLow sodiumRich in folateRich in ironRich in potassiumRich in zincFrench

Related foodsFrench Green LentilsBrown LentilsGreen LentilsYellow LentilsMoong DalMasoor Dal

Wikipedia — Puy lentil, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puy_lentil