Substitute Meat for Lentils

Using less meat is a great way to make this recipe less expensive and more heart healthy.  Swap half the ground beef for cooked brown lentils! Simply cook ½ cup brown lentils in 1 ½ cups water.  Be sure to use a large enough saucepan as the lentils will double or triple in size. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender.  For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes. Lentils are an easy way to increase fiber in ground meat recipes, soups, or taco filling.