Lentils are a humble and nutritious ingredient used in cuisines from all over the world. These recipes will show you how to use them as an alternative to meats in stews, burgers, “meatballs”, curries, and more!
1. Easy Lentil Sherpherd’s Pie
This easy, delicious Sherpherd’s Pie recipe is the perfect lentil-based dish that both vegetarians and meat lovers will enjoy. Ready to eat in about an hour, this pie contains lentils, carrots, celery, mashed potatoes, and mushrooms for a savory bite.
2. Lentil Soup
The perfect soup to serve on a cold autumn evening, it’s chock full of savory ingredients like tomatoes, bay leaf, basil, and of course, lentils. Make your lentil soup spicier by doubling the amount of spices the recipe calls for.
3. Vegan Lentil Stew
This vegan lentil stew is perfect for dipping bread or a crostini into. Full of hearty flavors like onions, brown lentils, rosemary, and dried thyme, it’s ready to eat in an hour and keeps well if you freeze the leftovers.
4. Lentil Burgers
These lentil burgers offer a healthy alternative to traditional beef patties and taste great with all the trimmings you’d expect like lettuce, tomato, and cheese. What sets this burger apart is the Greek yogurt, which binds and adds some sweetness.
5. Instant Pot Lentil Curry
If you love warm curry but don’t want to use multiple pots to cook the lentils and curry sauce, just toss all your ingredients in your Instant Pot. This includes your green lentils, coconut oil, curry powder, rice, and ginger.
6. Lentil Chili
Are you looking for a vegetarian-friendly take on chili to try? This lentil chili recipe works in all of the traditional elements of chili without needing to use any meat to provide that extra bit of flavor.
7. Healthy Mushroom and Lentil Vegan Meatballs
This is a vegan twist on a classic that is the perfect complement to a vegan-style pasta dish. The mushrooms and lentils combine for a savory bite while tomatoes, garlic, and assorted seasonings make them feel like the real thing.
8. Lentil Salad
This salad takes the healthiness factor of your traditional salad and takes it to another level. The lentils mix with kale, olive oil, and other assorted ingredients to create a flavorful and delicious yet nutritious salad for you to enjoy.
9. Mediterranean Spicy Lentil Soup
This next recipe puts a spicy Mediterranean twist on the traditional lentil soup. The onions, spinach, lentils, garlic, spices, herbs, vegetable broth, and olive oil all combine to create complimentary flavors that create an extremely tasty soup everyone can enjoy.
10. Sausage Lentil Soup
This is not only one of the easiest recipes to make, but it’s soon to be your favorite. Just take some lentils, Italian sausage, and fresh veggies, throw them into your favorite instant pot or slow cooker, and dig in!
11. Mujaddara
This Arabic recipe brings a unique flavor to your kitchen. This is a basic recipe of lentils and rice combined with onions and various spices and seasonings to bring you a unique meal that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy.
12. Creamy Coconut and Red Lentil Curry
Are you looking for something to pair up with some basmati rice or your favorite flavor of naan? This decadent yet healthy take on curry incorporates lentils, coconut milk vegetable broth, and cilantro to make the perfect tasty side dish.
13. 1-Pot Red Lentil Chili
You can find a great use for red lentils with this spicy chili dish. Served with crisp red onions and sliced jalapenos as a garnish, this chili is a gluten-free and dairy-free meal that vegans and vegetarians alike can enjoy.
14. How to Cook Lentils
To use lentils for these recipes, you need to know how to cook them so they don’t get mushy. Add lentils to a pot, bring water to a boil, and then cover and simmer for 20 minutes; it’s that easy.
15. Masoor Dal Tadka
Also known as Indian red lentil dal, this curry is flavorful and easy to make in 25 minutes with a few simple ingredients like tomatoes and lentils. Once cooked, serve your sweet and savory curry with basmati or jasmine rice.
16. Vegan Lentil Tacos
It’s impossible to find someone who doesn’t love tacos. This vegan twist on a family favorite incorporates lentils alongside traditional taco ingredients like lettuce, onions, and sliced jalapenos to create a healthy alternative to a Mexican classic; picky eater approved!
Don’t get us wrong – lentil soup is the best! It’s full of flavor and perfect for any season. However, there are so many unique recipes you can make with lentils that you likely haven’t tried yet. Give these a whirl and make dinner this week exciting!
