21 Best Lentil Recipes (2024)

We have for you 21 delicious lentil recipes that are vegetarian, wholesome, and probably the best ways to eat lentils every day. These recipes are easy to follow, budget-friendly, and require a few basic pantry staples.

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About Lentils…

Lentils and legumes are a great source of vegan, gluten-free plant-based protein. What else I love about lentils? They are inexpensive, easy to store, fulfilling, and highly versatile ingredient.

I am listing 21 Best Lentil Recipes that will teach you how to eat lentil deliciously.

Lentil Salads, Soups & Stew:

Instant Pot Lentil Soup (Mulligatawny)

Mulligatawny Soup is classic gluten-free, vegan, one-pot creamy lentil soup. It has lentils, rice, vegetables, spices, and my favorite coconut milk. All these fulfilling ingredients make this 10 minute instant pot soup a perfect weeknight dinner.

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Mediterranean Style Lentil Salad

Lentil Salad is the best way to eat lentils with a lot of veggies, greens, herbs soaked in a flavorsome dressing. It is a wholesome, nutritious, fulfilling salad perfect for the summer season.

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Lentil Waffles

These vegan waffles are no ordinary waffles, I addedred lentilsto give them some protein boost. Intrigued enough to read further?

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Red Lentil Tortilla Soup

We all love easy, healthyDump & Start Red Lentil Tortilla Soup isn’t it! This Tex Mex Red Lentil Tortilla Soup is ready in minutes in yourInstant Pot / Pressure Cooker.

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Gluten-Free Lentil Cutlet

Gluten-Free Masoor Dal Cutlet Recipe is a satiating party appetizer or teatime snack with a crisp exterior and soft kebab like texture underneath. Serve these cutlets with the dip of your choice.

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Red Lentil Carrot Soup

This red lentil and carrot soup is an easy and delicious dairy-free soup that is perfect for a chilly winter day. It’s incredibly easy to make, made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and comes together in just about 30 minutes!

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Instant Pot Vegan Lentil Stew

This is an instant pot-friendly, vegan lentil stew recipe. It has lentils, seasonal veggies, and all things comforting you need in a perfect one-pot meal.

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Instant Pot Ethiopian Lentil Stew

Misir Wot is a healthy, protein-packed Ethiopian stew made with lentils, and a flavorful spice mix called Berbere. This EASY Instant Pot recipe is quick to make and served with rice makes a complete meal.

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Lentil Falafel

Made with lentils instead of chickpeas, this lentil falafel isn’t your average falafel and makes for a great addition to salads and sandwiches.

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Lentil Curry & Main Course:

Dal Makhani

Dal Makhani is the hearty, creamy, mildly flavored Indian dal recipe. It’s buttery texture simply melts in the mouth. Hence, it is just perfect to dip naan or serve as a main-dish with jeera rice.

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Lentil Rogan Josh

This vegetarian rogan josh is packed with wholesome ingredients – it’s healthy comfort food for chilly days. This aubergine curry is vegetarian/ vegan and a great way to satisfy a curry craving.

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Red Lentil Curry

Quick and easy Red Lentil Curry, also known as Masoor Dal, made in the instant pot and stovetop. This super delicious, healthy and budget-friendly vegan meal can be made in less than 30 minutes!

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Oats Lentil Porridge

Oats Khichdi is an Indian style oats porridge packed with vegetables and yellow moong dal. It’s a fabulous vegetarian one-pot casserole meal cooked in a pressure.

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Instant Pot Lentil Chilli

Lentil Chilli is so chunky and hearty, even meat-lovers will be pleased. Thanks to a combination of beans, lentils and butternut squash, this vegetarian chili recipe will rival any meat-based chili out there.

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Lentil Ragu Bolognese

Spaghetti with lentil sauce, sometimes called lentil bolognese or lentil ragu, is a hearty, traditional dish from Italy. Nutritious and packed with protein, it is great for vegetarians, vegans and anyone who loves Italian food.

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Lentil Shepherd Pie

This vegan shepherd’s pie ispacked with plant-based proteinand incredible flavors!It’s so easy to make, and ready in under an hour. Serve this for special occasions, a wintery dinner, or pack it for lunch. Great for meal prep, and suitable for freezing.

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Red Lentil Tacos

his easyRed Lentil Tacos Recipeis the perfect weeknight meatless meal that the whole family will love! An easy Vegetarian Taco Meat is ready to eat in under 30 minutes, making it a simple, quick, and healthy meal.

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Spinach Chana Dal

Spinach Chana Dal is a healthy, wholesome, gluten-free Indian style chana dal with spinach. It is super easy and quick to prepare in a pressure cooker.

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Madras Lentils

Madras Lentils is a delicious and satisfying vegetarian dish from Northern India. Full of bold flavors from ginger, cumin, chili powder, and more, this plant-based dish is easy to make and perfect for weeknights!

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Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry

This easy to make Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry is a healthy vegan recipe that makes a perfect meatless Monday dinner recipe.It takes less than an hour (mostly hands-off time) to make and is packed full of delicious Indian flavors.

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Indian Lentil Khichdi

Dal Khichdiis an Indianstyle lentil and rice one-pot, gluten-free dish. Khichdi is wholesome, fulfilling and a comforting vegetarian Indian food recipe.Dal Khichdilaced with ghee and served with pickle, sliced onions, and raita is an absolute family favorite lunch.

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You might also like:

Soya Manchurian RecipeCrispy Lotus Stem RecipeWatermelon Gazpacho RecipeHealthy Mushroom Soup Recipe
21 Best Lentil Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes lentils taste better? ›

Think more like you're cooking pasta- you just need significantly more water than lentils. You can also use broth instead of adding an extra layer of flavor. I like adding a bay leaf, an onion cut in half, and a clove of garlic to add flavor to the lentils.

What happens if you don't rinse lentils? ›

You're fine to eat unrinsed lentils. The only real reason to rinse it to remove possible dirt, and perhaps a tad of starch.

Which color lentils are the healthiest? ›

Best of all, black lentils are the most nutritious variety of lentils, boasting the highest amount of protein, plus high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.

How do I get the most out of my lentils? ›

Lentils aren't rice—they don't need to absorb every last drop of cooking liquid. They're more like pasta: best cooked in an abundance of water or stock. Bring your liquid up to a boil, add your lentils, then turn down your heat to a simmer for at least 25-30 minutes.

Why do I feel better after eating lentils? ›

Lentils have plenty of folate, iron and vitamin B1, which also support your heart health. Lentils may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, by lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure. One study found that eating lentils led to greater reductions in blood pressure than eating chickpeas, peas or beans.

What can I add to lentils to reduce gas? ›

Cumin seeds or ground cumin helps with digestion and is perfect in a soup, curry or dal (lentil dish). Carom seeds, fennel seeds, turmeric and peppermint are other great digestive aids. Cooking beans with a large strip of dried kombu, a Japanese dried kelp, may minimise their gas-producing properties too.

Why are there stones in lentils? ›

This is due to the harvesting process, which can gather small debris surrounding the plants, and those bits accidentally pass through the farmers' separating devices. Due to their small size — especially lentils — it's hard for machines to sift out all the debris.

Do you cook lentils covered or uncovered? ›

Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes. For split red lentils, cook time is typically only about 5-7 minutes.

What are the tastiest lentils? ›

Black Beluga lentils have the most flavor, adding a rich, earthy taste and a firm texture that holds up well during cooking. Black lentils will be ready in 20–25 minutes; however, they will fall apart like their brown, green, and red partners once you cook them for too long.

Are lentils anti-inflammatory? ›

Overall, lentils are a highly nutritious food with various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. The fiber and protein content in lentils make them beneficial for weight management, blood sugar regulation, and supporting overall gut health.

What pairs well with lentils? ›

If you have a few root vegetables hanging out in your fridge, those are also great with lentils, like in this warm lentil and root vegetable salad with parsnips and carrots. Lentils are particularly nice with cheese, as in this grilled halloumi and lentil salad.

What is the secret to cooking lentils? ›

To cook, cover the lentils with plenty of water or stock—about 3 cups for each cup of dry lentils. Lentils swell in size, but they don't absorb the extra water; just drain them when they're done. Once you bring the liquid to a boil, cover the pan and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.

Why did my lentil soup turn black? ›

the color change you've observed is from oxidation. If you want to prevent this, lay some plastic wrap over the surface of your lentils to prevent air from getting to them, or add some acid, like lime juice, to the recipe.

How to make lentils more palatable? ›

Cooking lentils slow and low, combining the right varieties among red lentils, green lentils, brown lentils etc., using freshly ground spices, and garnishing with fresh herbs can greatly improve the flavor and aroma of your dish.

What tastes good with lentils? ›

If you have a few root vegetables hanging out in your fridge, those are also great with lentils, like in this warm lentil and root vegetable salad with parsnips and carrots. Lentils are particularly nice with cheese, as in this grilled halloumi and lentil salad.

How do you fix bland lentils? ›

Add aromatics to the water or, even better, use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water. Follow this tip: Add a few cloves of garlic, a bay leaf, a spring of rosemary, half of an onion, or a combination of these aromatics to the cooking water or stock to help flavor the lentils.

What gives lentils flavor? ›

Adding half an onion (peeled), a few cloves of crushed garlic, a bundle of herbs, or a bay leaf to the cooking liquid and a pinch of salt gives lentils plenty of flavor, especially when they're the base for a salad or side dish.

References

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