Legumes are one of the most complete foods that we can include in our diet. They are very healthy and versatile since they can be prepared both in salads and in spoon dishes, croquettes and appetizers. In addition, they have a great contribution of protein of plant origin.
Cooking legumes is relatively simple, but if we are going to use them dry we require additional preparation by letting them soak, usually the night before. This makes them soften easily and turn out perfectly, especially in the case of very hard legumes such as chickpeas or beans. Occasionally, in the rush of daily life, it is common for us to forget to soak them in water beforehand, which can completely ruin the planning of our daily menus.
Some legumes are much harder than others when dry. This is the case of beans or chickpeas, which usually must be soaked for between 12 and 16 hours before being prepared. On the contrary, lentils and some types of small beans (such as beans) do not require this additional step.
Soaking legumes not only shortens their cooking time, but also helps them become much more digestible. If you feel like preparing a recipe with them but you haven't soaked them yet, don't worry, because it is not necessary to wait a whole night to enjoy them.
If you want to soften legumes quickly, you have two alternatives before you start cooking. To do this, you can place them in a pot or saucepan and then bring them to a boil. Let them boil for three to five minutes and turn off the heat. Keep them in hot water for an hour and you will see how they are ready to prepare your favorite recipes. As an additional tip, discard the water you used to soften them before proceeding to cook.
Another trick you can do in case you have forgotten to soak the legumes does not require you to put them on the stove, since you will only need a microwave. Place them in a container suitable for this device and cover them with water. Cover them with plastic wrap and put them in the microwave at maximum power for 15 minutes. After this time, you will see how soft they are and ready to cook.
