Lentils are a fantastic and wholesome food. They are so versatile and delicious. This ultimate guide on how to cook lentils is a must have for every cook!
Lentils are a powerhouse. They're loaded with protein, magnesium, Vitamin B, zinc and potassium which makes them a perfect food! Knowing how to cook them correctly is a skill you can learn fast and easily!
All About Lentils
Lentils are a legume full of protein and iron which makes them a great meat substitute. They are super versatile and can be used in so many ways. Adding them to your diet is a perfect way to help give your body nutrients and help fight things like heart disease.
Lentils have a ton of benefits and are easy to cook. This ultimate lentil guide will help you be a lentil master!! Plus I am linking all of my best lentil recipes to have at your fingertips.
Nutritional benefits
Lentils have so many amazing benefits. They are an inexpensive, and very wholesome heart healthy food and really should be part of everyones diet! Here are some of the main nutrients lentils give us:
- They are 25% protein, which make them an excellent meat alternative.
- Packed with b vitamins (including folate), zinc, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
- Loaded with iron which is perfect for those that may struggle to get enough.
- High in fiber to help fill you up and keep you regular.
- They contain phytochemicals which help protect us from chronic diseases (things like heart disease and type 2 diabetes).
Do you have to soak lentils before cooking them?
Nope! Lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking because they are so small and cook pretty quickly as compared to other beans. You can however soak them if you want to further reduce cooking time or if you are sensitive in digesting beans.
What happens if you don't soak them?
If you do not soak lentils, or any dried beans for that matter, the cooking time will simply be more. But because lentils cook pretty quickly, it isn't that big of a deal.
Do lentils give you gas?
The other issue with not soaking dried beans is digestion. Most beans can be harder to digest if not soaked. This is because beans contain certain sugars, called alpha-galactosides, that can give you gas. These are part of a group of carbs called FODMAPS.
FODMAPS are not digested but instead fermented by the bacteria in your gut. This process produces gas. For most people it isn't a huge issue but for people with digestive problems it can cause pain and discomfort.
Soaking them helps extract those sugars and therefore reduces the gas they give. So if you are super sensitive, soaking would help you digest lentils better
Lentils also have a high fiber content. This is another reason they can cause bloating, especially in people that don't eat a lot of fiber as it is. Interestingly, the lighter the color of lentil, the less fiber it has and the easier it is to digest.
How much does 1 cup of dried lentils make?
Lentils typically double plus a little in volume. So 1 cup of dried lentils will give you a little over 2 cups cooked.
How to cook raw lentils
Cooking lentils is fairly easy! Time depends on the type of lentil you are using, but the general steps are the same for all. Remember that you can soak them if you prefer although it is not needed. Here are the steps to cook them on the stove top:
- Rinse and sort, then add to a pot and fill with water covering them by several inches. It's about 3-4 cups water to 1 cup lentils.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer. The cooking time will vary depending on which type of lentil you are using. See cooking times under lentil variety info below.
- When done, drain the remaining water and use as needed!
Cooking in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker
If you are using a pressure cooker and do not want to drain the lentils, reduce to amount of water to a little under 2 cups per 1 cup lentils. You also do not need to soak lentils if using a pressure cooker because they cook much quicker. Here are the steps for cooking, keep in mind that cooking time can vary a lot depending on the variety and the texture you are going for:
- Put lentils and water into the pressure cooker.
- Put on the top and move the valve to the sealing position.
- Cook on the manual setting for:
- 2-5 minutes for the red variety (but up to 10 minutes if you are going for a very soft texture)
- 5-7 minutes for black lentils
- 6-7 minutes for brown/green lentils
- 7-9 for french green lentils
- Once done, allow the pressure to naturally release for about 10 minutes or so, then move the valve to the release position and once all the pressure is released you can open and use them as needed.
Cooking in a Crock Pot or slow cooker
Cooking lentils in a slow cooker will take more time than the stove or pressure cooker. The main issue is that the cooking time really varies and the end result can be hard to control. You want to keep the water the same as you have for the stove top version.
To cook in a slow cooker, as a general rule of thumb:
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours
- Cook on high for 3-5 hours
Simply start on the low end and check for firmness, then extend cooking time if needed.
How do you know lentils are cooked?
The end texture for your lentils will really depend on two things:
- The type of lentil.
- What you are using them for.
I recommend tasting for texture as you go along because there are many factors that may affect cooking time. Things like how old the lentils are, soaking, stove top, etc can all affect the total time.
How to add flavor
The most basic way to cook lentils is simply using water. This is great if you want a base to use in many ways. But if you are looking to add some flavor, here are my best ideas:
- Swap water for broth. I love cooking anything and everything in broth! It is the easiest way to add a little oomph to the end result.
- Add some sea salt to the water. Some sources say this prevents them from cooking but I have never had that issue.
- Drop in a bayleaf.
- Add whole or large pieces of onion or garlic.
- Add sprigs of fresh herbs.
- Add dried herbs and spices.
- Add kombu to the water. Kombu is a Japanese dried kelp that gives a rich flavor.
How to freeze
I love batch cooking, especially when it comes to things like lentils. They are a perfect food to keep stocked in the freezer to pull out when you need it. Here are my top tips for freezing:
- Make sure to cool them completely after cooking.
- Allow them to dry completely in order to prevent ice crystals forming (you can spread them out on a kitchen towel or on a cookie sheet).
- Put them in a freezer safe airtight container.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the lentils, touching and sealing them before putting the lid on. This further helps prevent freezer burn and ice crystals.
Types of Lentils
There are many different kinds of lentils, each with different properties. Also, each variety is best for certain things.
- Red/Yellow/Orange - These come in a variety of colors ranging from light yellow to dark red. These have a sweeter flavor and are more common in Indian dishes. They are the least firm variety and get mushy quickly, so watch your cooking time. Because of their soft texture, they are great for thickening things or pureed as a dip. It took me about 7-10 minutes to cook these to a medium texture. Cook closer to 15 minutes if you want them very soft.
- Brown/Green - These are one of the most common types of lentils. They have an average to soft firmness and an earthy flavor. They are great in soups or as meat replacements in veggie burger and vegan meatloaf recipes. When cooked, the skin can come off, which turns them softer, but not as soft as the red variety. They cook fairly quickly, it took me about 12-15 minutes to get the medium texture I wanted, but cook closer to 20 if you want them softer.
- Black Beluga- These are a firmer and very flavorful variety of lentil. Like French green lentils, they have a thicker skin and are nice and firm if cooked correctly. However if you cook longer, their skin can come off much like brown lentils, so watch cooking time depending on what end result you want. These took me about 15-17 minutes to get the perfect texture.
- French Green (or Lentilles du Puy) - These are the firmest lentil bean. They have a thick skin and hold their shape very well. That makes them great for salads and side dishes. You can also use them for soups if you want some texture. They have a peppery like flavor, and add great richness to a recipe. These lentils take longer to cook than the brown or red variety. It took me about 20-23 minutes to get them just right, but cook longer for a softer texture.
List of recipes using lentils
I love lentils and use them in so many recipes! Here are some of my favorite:
- Vegan Lentil Bolognese Recipe
- Vegan French Lentil Stew
- Easy Vegan Lentil Meatloaf Cups
- Easy Lentil Veggie Burger Recipe
- Greek Lentil Soup
- Lentil Quinoa Salad
- Lentil Sloppy Joes
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Tacos
- Vegan Moussaka Recipe
- Low-Fat Vegan Taco Meat
- Vegan Taquitos
- The Best Vegan Meatballs Recipe
- Healthy Vegan Bean Dip
- Vegan Mexican Chili Cheese Dip
- Vegan Greek Pastitsio
- Rainbow Tacos
- Mexican Pizza
- Easy Chili Mac and Cheese
How to Cook Lentils
Equipment
- pressure cooker (optional)
- slow cooker (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry lentils
- 3-4 cups water or broth
Optional flavor add ins:
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon sea salt
- bay leaf
- fresh herbs
- dried herbs
- whole garlic or onion
- kombu
Instructions
Stove top:
- Add lentils and water to a pot. Add in any flavorings you want.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 7-10 minutes for red, 12-15 for brown/green, 15-17 for black, and 20-23 for French green.
- Drain and use as needed!
Pressure cooker:
- Put lentils and water (and any flavorings) into the pressure cooker.
- Put on the top and move the valve to the sealing position.
- Cook on the manual setting for: 2-5 minutes for the red variety (but up to 10 minutes if you are going for a very soft texture), 5-7 minutes for black lentils, 6-7 minutes for brown/green lentils, 7-9 for french green lentils
- Once done, allow the pressure to naturally release for about 10 minutes or so, then move the valve to the release position and once all the pressure is released you can open and use them as needed.
Slow cooker:
- Put lentils and water (and any flavorings) into your slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-5 hours
Notes
- This makes a little over 2 cups cooked lentils. Serving size is approximately ¼ cup.
- Add in any of the flavor options you want or cook plain to have on hand.
- Nutrition info is for basic recipe only.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Chelsee Lee
Great post for those of us clueless on how to use these.