Legume of the month: Lentils

Lentils are tiny, lens-shaped legumes that come in array of colors, including yellow, red, green, brown, and black. Compared with other legumes, lentils are particularly rich in compounds known as polyphenols. These plant-based micronutrients are thought to help protect against cardio­vascular disease. Another advantage to lentils is that you don’t need to soak them in advance, as is necessary with beans. And they cook quickly — usually in about 20 minutes or less. In…