How to cook lentils (Tips, recipes and easy meal ideas)

What are lentils?

Lentils are a part of the legumes family. They are also known as pulses and are in the same group as beans and chickpeas. As mentioned before, they are of a high nutritional value. In 100g of boiled green lentils, there is 8.8g of protein. They are low in fat and contain iron for growth and fibre for good gut health. Lentils come in a range of colours, each of which has an earthy taste and needs different times to cook. So now you know a bit about them, let's read on and find out how to cook lentils. 

How to cook dry lentils

Dry lentils are easy to cook. Whether you are cooking red, green, black, or brown lentils, the method is the same. Just the cooking time changes.

When cooking, lentils can double in size, so use a large pot. To make sure you don't cook too many, allow 30g of dry lentils per person. When cooked, each portion of lentils will be 80g. One cup of dry lentils will be enough to feed four people as a side dish.

To start, rinse your lentils to make sure they are clean. Use a large pot; add your lentils and water. For every cup of lentils, add three cups of water. Bring your lentil pot to a boil, then simmer. Drain and serve.

There are a few methods of how to cook lentils. Depending on your preference, lentils can be cooked:

• On the stove in a pot
• In a pressure cooker
• In an instant pot
• How long to cook lentils
• Cooking time is variable depending on the type of lentil.

Lentils from quickest to longest cooking time:

1. Red and yellow split lentils - 15-20 minutes
2. Brown lentils - 15-20 minutes
3. Black lentils - 25 minutes
4. Puy lentils - 25 - 30 minutes
5. Green lentils - 45 minutes

Here are some tips, recipes and easy meal ideas for how to cook lentils:

How to cook red lentils

Red lentils are best to add thickness to stews and to make a thick warming soup. When they are cooked, they fall apart and lose their disc shape to become almost puree-like. They make a tasty side to curries, but most people like to make spiced red lentils.

How to cook green lentils

A store cupboard staple, green lentils can be made into a soup using the rinse and simmer method shown above. Instead of using water to cook the lentils, you can use stock, e.g. vegetable stock, and try to make a delicious soup, as in one of our recipes below.

How to cook brown lentils

Brown lentils have a stronger flavour than red and yellow lentils. They go well with casseroles and rice. They keep their shape well, so they can be added to minced meat to make burgers. 

How to cook black lentils

Black lentils, also known as Beluga lentils, are dark in colour. Like brown lentils, they retain their shape when cooking. They have an earthy flavour and go well in salads with a refreshing vinaigrette.  

How to cook puy lentils

Puy lentils got their name because of where they come from. They are a type of green lentil grown in a volcanic region of France called Puy. These lentils hold their shape best when cooking. They will keep their shape and absorb the flavours after a long cooking time. Because of this, you can add puy lentils to an oven-cooked casserole. Try them out even in this vegetarian nachos recipe.

Tips and tricks when cooking lentils

• It's crucial to get the freshest lentils you can. Cooking older lentils takes much longer, and they frequently shed their skins throughout the process.
• Rinse the lentils thoroughly in a strainer to remove any debris, then sift them through to ensure there are no hidden stones among the legumes.
• To add flavour to the lentils, add a few garlic cloves, a bay leaf, a sprig of rosemary, half an onion, or a mix of these aromatics to the simmering water or stock.
• Add salt or acidic seasonings like lemon juice or vinegar after the lentils have finished cooking. Stir them into the lentils while they're still warm, and they'll soak up all of the flavours.

Lentil Recipes

Here are some of our recipes to show you how to cook lentils:

• Creamy lentil and spinach soup with bacon
• Black spiced lentils with yogurt and mint
• Duck legs with puy lentils and onion
• Mega mushroom and lentil curry
• Vegetable and lentil lasagne
• Dahl lentils Indian recipe
• Lentil soup
• Vegetarian nachos with lentils