How to Wash Lentils or Dal: Part One of Three with Eyton Shalom, LAc.

[@blacklilybobro]

I am definitely going to wash my lentils from now on. Always before I did a sloppy job of it. Washing them off is a huge part of how they turn out. Not to mention way more sanitary. Thanks for the vid

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

thank you Anna!

[@madraschap]

The foamy substance is not starch. It is a chemical compound called saponin, which are present in some plants to prevent animals from eating them. Pulses are rich in saponins, which can interfere with digestion. That's why washing and removing them is important. An additional benefit is that it also prevents the spewing/foaming of water when cooking.

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

Thanks very much S, for clarifying....I knew there had to be a good reason to follow the Ammas advice....American Indians did similar things with acorns, and other indigenous tribals with roots that served as staple starches before the rise of grains.......... Ancient peoples figured out such such things before Science could explain it with the language of chemistry....You dont need to know the chemistry to know it interferes with digestion, but it is so nice for us moderns to know the Science...i always like knowing it, so thanks very much for taking the time to comment.........On that note, when i first began cooking Tooram parrapu in 1974, it would cook so quickly to such a softness....Now it does not, and i also find i dont digest it as well. I have assumed there is some kind of high yield insect resistant variety being grown now...maybe its higher in saponins? Any idea about that? thanks much

[@heath6809]

Very helpful video. Thank you.

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

thank you David.

[@craigmacdonald7764]

Thank you for the tips most appreciated

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

Thank you Craig!

[@unicornlover5233]

You explained very well.

[@eytonshalom]

thanks very much!

[@beckythesubalary4261]

Thanks!

[@eytonshalom]

thank you, Becky!

[@stringbean2620]

Make more videos please!:-)

[@changwoeiyii7537]

Great video! The foam tastes bitter in reality. So, if you don't remove foam completely along the cooking process, it will spoil the taste of the soup and make the whole dish taste entirely different.

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

Thank you Chang...i am now told also that the bitter foam is Saponin....i knew Quinoa was high in it, so i always sock and rince my Quinoa too...Glad you like the video!

[@kebz846]

I was just making lentils for the first time. I was wondering why it was so foamy. Thought I put soap in it

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

yes, i does have that look. thanks for watching...

[@22ryanoc]

Vegan here. Much appreciated. Save acidic soaking water for feeding plants :)

[@eytonshalom]

thank you Ryan....good point...i do tend to do that...

[@marcfinkelstein4132]

Why not just run them through a wire strainer to more quickly get rid of the foam? You can massage in there. I agree with the other comment - this should have been 45 seconds and not 11 minutes of time wasting.

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

I find that this way works better this is how I learned to do it from the Indian women but regardless of the tradition what I find is soaking them first of all loosens the starch the saponins and then you can really rinse it with your hand and because it’s in the water it’s like you wouldn’t wash your clothes just you could if you had to just wash them in a strainer but it’s the process of immersion that loosens that’s how I feel about it at the end I actually do often especially with beans rinsed and finally the final rinse in a strainer and I do do that sometimes but this way you can see that all of the sadness of been removed because the water is clear and you can’t really see that with a strainer good question thank you I’m voice dictating so on my cell phone so a couple of the words got to spelled wrong

[@a.m.215]

Did you use shampoo or just normal soap? 🤣 I should change my shampoo to pink lentils. LOL 🤣

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

yup, that is a nasty substance called Saponins, which interfere w/digestion, so vital that its removed so you dont get gas! You can save it to wash your hair if you want....🤣