How to Cook Lentils: 5 Ways and 7 Recipes for Our Favorite Pulse

Nikole Stewart |

Sep 10, 2024

How to Cook Lentils, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Looking for a plant-based meal that’s rich in protein, delicious, and inexpensive? Consider the humble lentil. Learning how to cook lentils is easy — given their small size, they cook far more quickly than most dried beans, and there are so many varieties, we bet you’ll never get sick of them.

Lentils are both a pulse and a legume (all pulses are legumes, but not all legumes are pulses, as pulses actually only comprise dried seeds). They’re also one of the oldest domesticated foods as studies have shown lentils being consumed by humans since Neolithic times¹.

It’s no wonder they’ve been so popular for so long — lentils are quite rich in nutrients². One cup of cooked lentils contains:

17.9 grams of protein (36% DV)
6.6 mg of iron (37% DV)
365 mg of phosphorous (36% DV)
731 mg of potassium (21% DV)
1 mg of manganese (49% DV)
.5 mg copper (25% DV)
358 mcg folate (90% DV)

They are also attributed with a host of health benefits, including reduced cholesterol and increased digestive health, both thanks to high levels of fiber and increased heart health due to folate and magnesium³.

To top it all off, lentils are a sustainable choice. They can be grown with limited irrigation, thus saving precious water, and the lentil plant actually has nitrogen-fixing properties, encouraging healthy soil. Keep reading to learn how to cook lentils in 5 different ways.

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The 6 Different Types of Lentils

How to Cook Lentils, Types, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Lentils come in many different varieties, which are distinguishable based on color, size, and form. Some lentils are sold whole, while others are sold split, which affects how to cook lentils.

Split lentils will also have their outer skin removed, making them far quicker to cook. The downside of split lentils is that they usually do not hold their shape as well once cooked.

Always choose the variety of lentils that best suits your recipe, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Here are just a few of our favorite lentil varieties to experiment when learning how to cook lentils:

Beluga lentils get their name from their resemblance to caviar: these tiny black lentils have a rich, robust flavor and hold up well once cooked. Cook for between 25 and 30 minutes.
Puy lentils are a French variety of green lentils that have a stronger, peppery flavor. They were the first vegetable to earn AOC-protected status in France. They can take between 20 and 45 minutes to cook, depending on their size. They are excellent in salads, as they hold up well when cooked and have a mild, earthy flavor that soaks up vinaigrettes perfectly.
Brown lentils are one of the most common types of lentils. They actually encompass a number of varieties, including Spanish Brown and German Brown, and they usually take between 20 and 30 minutes to cook. They tend to go a bit mushy and are best in stews.
Coral lentils or masoor dal are hulled and split red lentils with a sweet, nutty flavor. They break down almost immediately when cooked, making them perfect for dals.
Red lentils are the same variety as coral lentils, unsplit and sometimes not even hulled — if they are a brighter red or orange color, they’re likely hulled, whereas if they’re more of a muted brownish-red, they aren’t. Red lentils have a sweet, nutty flavor. Like their hulled cousins, red lentils do tend to get mushy during cooking, which is why they are great in soups.
Macachiados lentils are large, yellow lentils found in Mexico. They are some of the longest to cook, taking up to 45 minutes. They have a relatively mild flavor and are great in soups and stews.

With most varieties of lentils, there’s no need to soak them ahead of time, though you can by all means do so if you want to save time. You should, however, always rinse your lentils and pick through them to make sure that all small stones and debris have been removed before cooking.

Keep reading to learn how to cook lentils in some of our favorite ways. And if you choose to use nonstick cookware, read our guide on non-toxic cookware brands to keep chemicals out of your food.

1. Boiled Lentils

Lentils Thicken, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Want to learn how to cook lentils in the simplest way? Boil them. Of course, it’s always best to flavor them during this process, as lentils will soak up a lot of flavor while cooking. Use broth or stock instead of water, and add aromatics like garlic, herbs, and spices to the liquid as the lentils cook. Just be sure not to add salt until the lentils are three-quarters of the way cooked, to avoid them getting too tough.

Cooking time for boiling lentils will depend on a variety of factors, including the age and variety of your lentils. Be sure to check the package instructions for the recommended volume of water to lentil ratio as well. Lentils can also be boiled directly with other ingredients, for example when making a chili or stew.

2. Lentil Salad

Using lentils in a salad is a great way to add protein to a simple cold main. To do this, cook the lentils using the above method until nearly cooked — just al dente. Then add the lentils to your vinaigrette of choice while still hot, and toss to combine.

As the lentils cool, they will soak up the vinaigrette, continuing to cook in the process, leaving you with a lentil salad that’s filled with flavor.

3. Sprouted Lentils

Lentils Sprouted, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Just like other pulses, lentils remain, at their heart, seeds; they can easily be sprouted and added to your favorite salads or sandwiches.

Use a sprouting kit or mason jar to sprout whole lentils at home. Just rinse the lentils thoroughly and place them in a sprouting container, covering three-quarters of the way full and placing a mesh lid on top.

4. Use Lentils as Stuffing

Lentils Stuffing, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

It would obviously be pretty hard to stuff a lentil itself, but you can easily use lentils to make a vegetarian stuffing. Lentils and tomatoes come together as a substitute for Bolognese sauce in lasagna or stuffed shells. Or, toss them with spices to make a stand-in for taco meat.

5. Use Lentils to Thicken

Lentils Boiled, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Wondering how to cook lentils in every dish? Many lentils make an excellent thickener all on their own, like red or brown lentils. Others can be used as a thickener if you purée or mash them before adding to a soup or stew.

The lentils will add a nice richness and texture to a variety of dishes when used in this way — just boil, purée, and stir them into any dish you’d like to thicken.

Our Favorite Lentil Recipes

Lentils Recipes, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Now that you’ve mastered how to cook lentils, try them in some of our favorite recipes.

Puy Lentils and Minted Yogurt: In this lentil recipe, Puy lentils are simmered with spices and topped with a mint and black pepper yogurt that mirrors the pepperiness in the lentil itself.

Vegan Lentil Soup: This vegan lentil soup combines green lentils with chickpeas and black-eyed peas for a legume-rich dish that’s packed with protein.

Indian Red Lentil Curry Recipe: This red lentil curry uses a combination of red lentils, paprika, and turmeric to create a wow-worthy color in this Indian-inspired dish.

Lentil and Sweet Potato Patties: Basic brown lentils are the key to these vegan burger patties, which are rich in umami thanks to sweet potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes.

5-Lentil Dal: 5-Lentil dal is a classic Indian comfort food. This version includes brown, red, and yellow lentils as well as split peas and chickpeas.

Seared Salmon over Warm Lentil Salad: You’ll often find lentils as a vegetarian main, but they also stand up great to the flavors of fish or meat. In this dish, rich salmon sits on a bed of warm lentils for a unique twist on surf and turf.

Vegan Lentil Soup: This lentil soup is the ideal illustration of the ways in which different varieties of lentils can be used together. Green lentils hold their shape in the soup, while orange lentils meltdown and add body to the broth.