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:

Indian Style Shakshuka RecipeCreamy Corn Soup RecipeMediterranean Lentil Salad RecipeWhole Wheat Pancakes Recipe
21 Best Lentil Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes lentils taste better? ›

Otherwise, try adding some acid. If you've added enough salt, and a dish STILL tastes bland, a splash of vinegar or citrus will bring it all together. Also try adding a bay leaf while cooking them, and always salt the water for lentils. You can also boil them in chicken or beef stock instead of water.

What happens if you don't rinse lentils? ›

It'll be fine. The reason you rinse lentils is to remove any small rocks, husks, and rodent droppings that might have gotten in there.

Which color lentils are most nutritious? ›

Black Lentils (Beluga lentils)

Thanks to the robust flavor, these lentils pair well with meaty veggies and marinated proteins like mushrooms, tofu, and seitan. 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.

Which lentils are the tastiest? ›

Black Beluga lentils have the most flavor, adding a rich, earthy taste and a firm texture that holds up well during cooking.

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.

What's the best way to eat lentils? ›

15 Simple Ways to Incorporate Beans and Lentils into Your Meals
  1. Substitute for beef in these Lentil and Mushroom Sloppy Joes.
  2. Add a scoop to dinner salads or Buddha bowls.
  3. Stir into pasta sauce.
  4. Mix into tuna, egg or potato salads.
  5. Add to roasted vegetables hot out of the oven.

Is it OK to eat slightly undercooked lentils? ›

Lentils should always be consumed well-cooked as when raw or undercooked they can cause serious health problems, food poisoning and, in very extreme cases, even death. It's all because they contain natural compounds called lectins which are toxic but fortunately, cooking destroys them!

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.

Are lentils a carb or protein? ›

Lentils are high in fibre, and complex carbohydrates, while low in fat and calories. Their high protein content makes lentils a perfect option for those looking to boost their protein intake. They are naturally gluten-free, making them a delicious staple in a gluten-free kitchen.

What color lentils have the most iron? ›

The best part is that black lentils are the most nutrient-dense type of lentil, including high quantities of calcium, potassium, iron, and protein. According to the USDA, a half cup of raw black lentils has 960 mg of potassium, 100 mg of calcium, 8 mg of iron, and 26g of protein.

Which lentils are hardest to digest? ›

Ones that are moderately easy to digest include French puy lentils, toor daal, whole mung beans and adzuki beans. These are more of an occasional indulgence. The more far more difficult to digest legumes are whole green, brown or red lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans and other beans like cannellini, pinto etc.

Which lentils cook fastest? ›

Red Lentils

Red (or yellow) lentils cook much more quickly than any other variety. They become soft and tender after simmering for just 15 minutes! As they cook, they melt and dissolve, creating a delicious creamy texture.

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.

How do you make lentils easier on your stomach? ›

Tips to Make Beans and Lentils Less Gassy:
  1. Rinse before cooking. Rinsing canned beans and lentils helps reduce the amount of those indigestible carbohydrates, which are released into the water. ...
  2. Even better, soak them overnight. ...
  3. Introduce them slowly. ...
  4. Call in the reinforcements.
Dec 11, 2017

How do you hide the taste of lentils? ›

Use in curries (vegetarian or with meat). Add to vegetable soup, especially those that are blended and have spices like carrot and cumin soup. Combine cooked red lentils with roast vegetables and garlic.

References

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