Simple Stovetop Lentils

Let's learn how to cook lentils right on the stove in less than thirty minutes. Lentils are affordable, super nutritious, and versatile. They can be used as a side dish or to make all kinds of main dishes including tacos, salads, sloppy joes, soup, burgers, and more.

Lentils are a fantastic side dish and one we often don't think about. They can be cooked on the stove-top in about the same amount of time it takes to cook rice and can be flavored with all kinds of spices to match any meal. They are also packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and they are a good source of plant-based protein.

Lentils also make a great base for a vegetarian or meatless meal or as a way to bulk up meat-based dishes and stretch your protein. Their hearty taste and texture make them a perfect option for dishes like tacos, sloppy joes, pasta (as a sub for meat), stuffed peppers, and more. They keep well in the fridge and freezer so you can make a big batch and use them in all kinds of dishes.  

One quick tip, when buying lentils, try to make sure you buy fresh lentils since older lentils won't cook as evenly and sometimes shed an outer layer during cooking. Make sure to wait until the end of cooking to add acidic ingredients since it can make the lentils crunchy when added early in the cooking process.

Three Reasons to Love Lentils

Lentils are a powerhouse when it comes to nutrition, taste, and affordability. 

• Nutrition Packed: Lentils are a nutritional powerhouse, full of protein and fiber, yet low in calories. A single cup packs around 18 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber for just about 230 calories. This means they're great for staying fit, feeling full, and keeping your energy levels stable. They are also great for heart health nd packed with vitamins and minerals including iron, folate, manganese, magnesium, and potassium.
• Super Versatile: Whether in soups, salads, burgers, tacos, or as a hearty side, lentils fit right in. They absorb flavors beautifully and can work with so many cuisines. With varieties like brown, green, red, and black, lentils can spice up your cooking game and bring variety to your table with minimal effort.
• Budget-Friendly: Lentils win big on affordability. They're much cheaper than many protein sources, especially meat, making them a go-to for budget-conscious eaters. They also store well, letting you buy in bulk and save money without wasting food. For a mix of nutrition, taste, and savings, lentils are hard to beat.

How to Prepare Lentils for Cooking

It's important to sort and rinse your lentils before cooking them. 

1. Start by choosing the freshest lentils you can find. This may sound strange since lentils are dried, but older lentils generally take longer to cook and sometimes shed the outside layer when cooking. Since it can be hard to know how fresh dried lentils are, I usually buy them from bulk bins since they tend to be fresher. You can also try and avoid lentils that look discolored, which can be another sign of age. 
2. Rinse and sort the lentils: You always want to rinse your lentils to make sure to remove any dirt and debris. You also want to sort them to remove any small rocks that could end up in the lentil mixture.
3. Avoid acids: Generally speaking, you don't want to add acids (like tomatoes, vinegar, citrus juices) to your lentils until after they have cooked since it can slow down or halt the cooking process. There are some exceptions to this but it is a good rule of thumb.

How to Cook Lentils on the Stove

It couldn't be easier to cook lentils on the stovetop and they only take 15-20 minutes in most cases. The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the type of lentil, which is included below.

1. Always start by rinsing the lentils and sorting to remove any small rocks.  Although this isn't common, it is something that can happen and no one wants to worry about chipping a tooth while eating lentils. 
2. Next, bring the liquid to a boil. Water and broth are the most common liquids to use when cooking lentils. For every 1 cup of dried lentils, you need about 4 cups of liquid. 
3. Add the dried lentils to the boiling liquid. Stir and turn down to a low simmer. This is also when you can add salt, seasoning, dried herbs (a bay leaf adds so much flavor), garlic, onions, or other flavor agents. 
4. Let the lentils simmer and stir as needed. Depending on the type of lentils, they will take between about 6 minutes for red lentils to 20-25 minutes for French lentils. Check the lentils for doneness and then continue cooking until soft but not mushy. The exact time will vary slightly.
5. Drain any excess liquid as needed using a fine mesh strainer. 

How Long to Cook Lentils: Green, Red, Brown, Black, and French Lentils

Depending on the type of lentils, the cooking time varies from about 6 minutes to 22 minutes. Older lentils may take longer to cook and soften.

• Red lentils:  Check at 6-8 minutes
• Green and brown lentils: Check at 15-17 minutes
• Black beluga lentils: Check at 17-20 minutes
• French green lentils: Check at 18-22 minutes
• Sprouted lentils: Sprouted lentils only need about 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of lentils. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Sprouted lentils cook more quickly than unsprouted lentils. 

Drain the lentils using a fine strainer to remove the excess liquid. Season with salt to taste.

How to Add Flavor to Lentils

Lentils are a blank canvas and there are so many different ways to add flavor during and after cooking them.

• Bay leaves pair well with the earthy taste of lentils. Add a dried bay leaf to your pot when cooking. This is something I do every time I cook lentils.
• Garlic is another option for adding flavor. Let a few cloves cook with the lentils. Once they are soft, you can mash them and add them back into the cooked lentils.
• Add some chopped onion, celery, or carrots to enhance the flavor of the lentils. These can be added raw (except for red lentils since they cook too quickly) or for more flavor, saute them in olive oil before adding the cooking liquid and lentils.
• Fresh or dried herbs are another option to build flavor including rosemary, thyme, oregano, or parsley. 
• Dried spices like paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, ground ginger, chili powder, or curry powder can all add flavor to your lentils.
• After the lentils are cooked, there are so many ways to add flavor. Consider diced tomatoes, pesto, fresh chopped herbs, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of vinegar, or any other sauces, seasonings, or toppings.

Turning Lentils Into a Meal

Once you cook your lentils, here is how to quickly turn them into a meal!

• Tacos: Combine the lentils with pico de gallo, store-bought salsa, chipotle peppers in adobo, or even taco seasoning to make quick vegetarian tacos. Top with all your favorite toppings for an easy and hearty vegetarian meal. We love tossing our cooked lentils with pico de gallo and taco seasoning. Then serve with crumbled cotija cheese, cilantro, and avocado. 
• Salad: Lentils are a great addition to make salads heartier and more filling. Our favorite lentil salad combines cooked lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese.
• Soup and stews: Although dried lentils are usually used to make soup, you can also add cooked lentils to all kinds of soups and stews to make them heartier and more filling. Add them to your favorite homemade or store-bought chicken soup, vegetable soup, tomato soup, or bean soup. 
• Burgers and meatballs: You can use cooked lentils in place of beans in most vegetarian burgers. Or turn your cooked lentils into these tasty lentil meatballs or lentil falafel.
• Pasta sauce: Instead of meat, use cooked lentils in your pasta and pasta sauce. Make a super healthy and hearty bolognese with cooked lentils.
• Add eggs: One of my favorite simple meals is cooked lentils with whatever greens or vegetables I have at home and poached eggs. It is so simple but so delicious.

Why Lentils Stay Hard After Cooking & How to Fix It

The most common problem people encounter when cooking lentils, especially green lentils and brown lentils, is that the lentils don't soften. Here are the most common reasons why.

1. Age of Lentils: Older lentils may not soften well due to loss of moisture over time.
   • Solution: Check the packaging date and use lentils within a year. Soak older lentils overnight before cooking to help replenish some of the moisture. 
2. Hard Water: Minerals in hard water can prevent lentils from softening.
   • Solution: Use filtered or bottled water for cooking if you have hard water.
3. Acidic Ingredients: Adding acidic ingredients too early can keep lentils hard.
   • Solution: Add acidic ingredients like tomatoes, vinegar, or lemon juice only after the lentils are nearly soft.

Can I make lentils in the slow cooker?

Lentils can be cooked in the slow cooker. You will want to use the same 1 cup of lentils to 4 cups of liquid and can add any of the flavor enhancers. Cook the lentils on high for 3-4 hours and low on 6-8 hours. Drain once they are cooked. Red lentils tend to overcook and break down in the slow cooker so I only recommend cooking red lentils this way for soup.

How to make lentils in the Instant Pot?

It's easy to cook lentils in the Instant Pot. For the Instant Pot, use a ratio of 1 cup of lentils to 2 cups of liquid. Cook them on high pressure for 9 minutes and then quick release so that the lentils don't overcook. This is best for standard green or brown lentils. 

How to freeze lentils?

Lentils are great for batch cooking and freezing. Make a large batch and portion out to freeze. They will last in the freezer for up to 6 months when stored correctly. Defrost overnight in the fridge or gently in a pan or the microwave.