What to make with lentils
Lentils make soup, red lentil curry, sloppy joes, taco filling, a hearty bolognese, shepherd’s pie and salads. They need no soaking: red lentils cook to a soft purée in about 15 to 20 minutes, and brown or green lentils hold their shape in 20 to 30. A cup of cooked lentils has about 18 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber, for very little money.
lentils
10 easy ideas with lentils
Family-tested favorites. Tap one to get the full recipe, scaled for your table.
Lentil Sloppy Joes
30 minHalf lentils and half ground beef, or all lentils, in a sweet tomato sauce on soft buns.
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Red Lentil Coconut Curry
30 minRed lentils simmered with coconut milk, tomato and mild spices until creamy.
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Lemony Lentil Soup
40 minBrown lentils, carrots, celery and spinach with a squeeze of lemon. Freezes well.
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Lentil Taco Filling
25 minLentils cooked with taco spices and salsa, to stretch ground beef or replace it.
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Lentil Bolognese
35 minRed lentils melt into a rich tomato sauce for spaghetti. It tastes meaty without the meat.
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Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
50 minLentils and vegetables in gravy under a blanket of mashed potatoes.
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Lentil and Sausage Stew
40 minChicken sausage, lentils and kale in a garlicky broth.
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Mediterranean Lentil Salad
25 minLentils with cucumber, tomato, feta, mint and lemon. Even better the next day.
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Red Lentil Dal with Rice
30 minA mild, soupy dal with garlic, ginger and turmeric, spooned over rice.
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Mujadara
50 minLentils and rice topped with deeply browned onions. Cheap, filling and very good.
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Kitchen notes on lentils
Pick the right lentil
Red and yellow lentils fall apart, which is what you want in curry, dal and sauce. Brown and green lentils keep their shape in soups, tacos and salads. French green and black lentils stay the firmest.
Rinse, don’t soak
Rinse lentils in a sieve and pick out any tiny stones. Unlike dried beans, they cook without soaking.
Acid goes in last
Lemon, vinegar and tomatoes can keep lentils firm if they go in at the start. Add them once the lentils are nearly tender.
Storage
Cooked lentils keep 3 to 5 days in the fridge and freeze well in portions. Dried lentils keep for a year or more in a sealed jar.
Questions about lentils
Do you have to soak lentils?
No. Rinse them and cook: red lentils take about 15 to 20 minutes, and brown or green lentils 20 to 30 minutes.
How much protein is in lentils?
About 18 grams in a cup of cooked lentils, plus about 15 grams of fiber.
How do I get kids to eat lentils?
Start by mixing them half and half with ground beef in tacos, sloppy joes or bolognese, or use red lentils, which melt into a sauce. Most kids never notice.
