Most dog owners truly want the best for their pups. Homemade dog food is a great choice for all dogs especially those with special dietary needs. We’ve created a lentil and ground lamb recipe that is packed with nutrition and will provide healthy fuel to support your dog’s energy levels. For the protein ingredient, we chose lamb because it’s protein-rich and has a lower fat content compared to other red meats. We left out grains and used lentils instead. We hope you try it!
Lentil and Ground Lamb Dog Food Recipe:
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yields: 5 cups
Servings: 10
Lentil and Ground Lamb Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1 cup cooked red lentils (see notes)
- 1 cup chopped frozen green beans (see notes)
- ½ cup cooked carrots, about 3 chopped carrots
Cooking Utensils Needed:
- Measuring cups
- Stainless steel pot
- Steamer pot
- Large bowl
- Large spoon or spatula
Lentil and Ground Lamb Recipe Instructions:
- In a stainless steel pot, cook 1 pound of ground lamb in a bit of water until done. Set aside.
- Chop about 3 carrots and place in a steamer pot. Steam carrots on medium heat until soft. When done, add the frozen green beans to the steamer pot and let them defrost. Set aside.
- Measure 1 cup of cooked red lentils.
- Add the ground lamb to a large glass or stainless steel bowl. Add 1 cup of cooked red lentils into the same bowl as the lamb. Next, add the carrots and green beans. Using a large spoon or spatula, mix all of the ingredients together until combined.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This food should be consumed within 4 days. You can freeze this lentil dog food recipe in smaller portions, in a ziplock bag or other airtight container.
Lentil and Ground Lamb Recipe Notes:
- If desired, you can use fresh green beans. Steam them in the steamer pot with the carrots. If you want to use both frozen green beans and frozen carrots, lightly steam them until they are defrosted.
- For this lentil dog food recipe, we chose red lentils. You can use a different type of lentil as well, such as brown or green lentils.
- Depending on your dog’s weight, you can feed your dog ¼ – 1 cup 2x a day. You can also follow feeding guidelines as advised by your veterinarian.
- You can double the recipe if you have a larger dog and need to make a larger batch.
This grain-free lentil dog food recipe came out great. I tried it on my two dogs and they absolutely loved it. I felt good about feeding it to them because it’s healthy and nutritious. Homemade dog food does not have any worrisome additives that a lot of packaged dog food contains.
Some dogs are prone to allergies and commercial dog food can worsen their symptoms because it is highly processed. A lot of commercial dog food has low-quality fats and oils. Plus, it is highly processed!
Why is Lamb Good for Dogs?
Lamb is a healthy protein choice for your dog because it contains essential nutrients that are beneficial for your dog’s overall health. In addition, lamb can be a very good choice for any dog suffering from food allergies.
Some dogs are unable to tolerate chicken or beef. Often when that is the case, they are able to eat less commonly used proteins like lamb. If you have never tried lamb on your dog before and your dog is prone to allergies, it is recommended to try small amounts to start out with.
Lamb contains:
- High-quality protein
- B Vitamins – for nervous system health + skin and coat health
- Phosphorous – an important mineral for bone health
- Zinc – supports the immune system
- Dietary fiber – supports the digestive tract
- Iron – supports energy and the metabolism
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids (read more below)
Lamb will provide your dog with a healthy dose of both omega-3 and omega-6. These essential fatty acids help lower inflammation in the body and they support the immune system. Omega fatty acids are also beneficial for heart and kidney health.
If your dog has any skin health issues, omega-3 fatty acid can help because it has extensive anti-inflammatory properties that can lessen itching and skin allergies. The anti-inflammatory effects of omega fatty acids can also help ease chronic pain conditions such as arthritis.
Health Benefits of Lentils for Dogs
Since this is a grain-free dog food recipe, we chose to add lentils as a substitute for grains. Lentils have complex carbohydrates and are high in fiber. Like lamb, lentils are also low in fat but high in protein.
This lentil dog food recipe is packed with protein to give your dog an energy boost. Lentils don’t require soaking prior to cooking and are easy to cook.
For this lentil dog food recipe, we chose red lentils. Red lentils take about 10-15 minutes to cook and store well in the fridge. Once cooked, they have a soft texture which makes them easy to chew and digest.
Lentils contain:
- Dietary fiber
- Essential Minerals and Vitamins including B Vitamins and Folate
- Protein
- Iron
Benefits of Carrots and Green Beans for Dogs
For veggies, we decided to use green beans and carrots. It adds a fun pop of color and more nutrition to this lentil dog food recipe. Carrots have a lot of Vitamin A, which will be beneficial for your dog’s eye health and immune system. Vitamin A also promotes healthy skin and coat.
Carrots contain antioxidants and a good amount of fiber. Antioxidants help combat oxidative stress which can accelerate aging and cause inflammation.
Green beans, like carrots, are also high in antioxidants plus they will provide your dog with essential minerals. Green beans provide a healthy dose of Vitamin C which will boost your dog’s immune system.
A healthy immune system is able to better fight off things like oxidative stress, bacteria, viruses, and chronic illness. Carrots and green beans are a great choice for this recipe, but you can also substitute other vegetables like zucchini, sweet potato, peas, and kale.
Now that you know about all the benefits of this lentil dog food recipe, we hope you try it!
