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15+ Easy Red Lentil Recipes

September 13, 2021 by Lindsay 4 Comments

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Looking for easy red lentil recipes? Here are 15+ to add to your lunch and dinner rotation. Recipes for curry, dahl and soup, plus red lentil muffins, cookies, meatballs, hummus and more!

easy red lentil recipes

Hi friends!

Recently I shared a recipe for Apple Cinnamon Red Lentil Muffins and it sparked some interest in red lentils! So I thought I would pull together some recipes using red lentils to show you guys just how versatile they are! They are super easy to cook, they cook quickly and then don’t have a strong flavor so they easily blend into almost every recipe.

How to cook red lentils

If you’ve never cooked with red lentils, they’re a little different than green/brown lentils. While green lentils hold their shape well, red lentils are smaller and already split. They often lose their shape which makes it easy for them to blend into things like soups and curries to add protein and fiber without being very noticeable. 

To cook them, simply place 1 cup lentils in a pot with 3 cups water, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, crack the lid and simmer. I cook mine for 5 minutes but you can do anywhere from 5-10. Then drain the excess water. Here’s a helpful tutorial from Kitchen Skip for How To Cook Red Lentils. You can also often cook them right in the dish you’re making.

Since red lentils cook so quickly, you don’t really have to worry about it but if you’re using green lentils you can cook a whole bag at once and freeze the extras so they’re ready to use. I often freeze in one cup portions to use in my Lentil Banana Muffins or two cup portions to add to soups, casseroles and curries.

Are lentils healthy

Lentils are a nutritional powerhouse. They’re full of polyphenols which can have anti-inflammatory properties. They’re high in fiber and protein, naturally gluten-free and also contain calcium, iron, potassium and folate.

They do contain some antinutrients which can reduce the absorption of some nutrients but cooking lentils takes care of a lot of these. If you’re worried, you can take it one step further by soaking lentils overnight before cooking (and discarding the soaking water) or sprouting lentils before cooking! Learn how to sprout lentils here. But remember that most red lentils are split and won’t sprout well. Green lentils will though!

Ready for some easy red lentil recipes?

lentil recipes vegan

Lentil Recipes Vegan

Among lentil recipes curry and dahl are the post popular, as well as soup! Most of these recipes are already vegan or can easily be made vegan with a simple swap.

  • Irresistible Red Lentil Curry via A Spicy Perspective
  • Simple Red Lentil Curry via Healthy Nibbles & Bits
  • Vegan Cauliflower Red Lentil Curry via The Mother Cooker
  • Coconut Red Lentil Dahl via Running on Real Food
  • Masoor Dal Tadka via The Curious Chickpea
  • Easy Red Lentil Dahl via Elavegan

red lentil soup recipes

Red Lentil Soup Recipes

Red lentils are a great addition to any soup. Cook them right in the pot and add fiber and protein to any dish.

  • Greek Red Lentil Soup via The Mediterranean Dish
  • Red Lentil Corn Chowder via Connoisseurus Veg
  • Red Lentil Chili via Minimalist Baker
  • Red Lentil Pumpkin Soup via Dietitian Debbie Dishes
  • Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup via Peas & Crayons
  • Red Lentil Carrot Soup via Eat with Clarity

red lentil recipes

Red Lentil Recipes

If you’re ready to think beyond curry, dahl and soup there are tons of other ways you can use red lentils!

  • Apple Cinnamon Red Lentil Muffins via The Lean Green Bean
  • Red Lentil Pancakes via The Lean Green Bean
  • Red Lentil Cookies via Real Mom Nutrition
  • Spiced Lentils with Poached Egg via Girl vs Dough
  • Pumpkin Lentil Falafel via Blissful Basil
  • Moroccan Lentil Meatballs via Dishing Out Health

easy red lentil recipes

  • Red Lentil Hummus via Jo Cooks
  • Red Lentil Bolognese via The Healthy French Wife
  • Red Lentil Potato Fritters via Vegan Heaven
  • Red Lentil Granola Bars via Fannetastic Food
  • Red Lentil Veggie Burgers via Cozy Peach Kitchen
  • Red Lentil Chipotle Dip via The Cuttin Veg

See anything you like? Pin it for later!

Looking for easy red lentil recipes? Here are 15+ to add to your lunch and dinner rotation. Recipes for curry, dahl and soup, plus red lentil muffins, cookies, meatballs, hummus and more!

If you’re ready to go beyond red lentils, here are 20+ green lentil recipes to try. Some of my favorites are:

  • Pesto Lentil Balls
  • Lentil Taco Salad
  • Lentil Vegetable Curry
  • Instant Pot Vegetarian Lasagna Soup

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

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Filed Under: Dinner, Ingredient Round-Ups Tagged With: Lentils

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tarzetahie says

    September 18, 2022 at 2:09 AM

    Thanks a lot Lindsay.
    Is there any differences between red or green lentils in cooking wise?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      September 24, 2022 at 7:08 AM

      red lentils cook much more quickly and don’t really hold their shape. green take longer and hold their shape.

      Reply
  2. Leanna says

    August 2, 2023 at 10:11 AM

    Wow these all look great! I’ve had a couple bags of lentils gifted to me with no idea what to do with them–little did I know how versatile they are, can’t wait to try some of these recipes, thank you!

    Reply
  3. Rush says

    November 27, 2023 at 2:28 AM

    Thanks Lindsay. it was amazing.

    Reply

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Lindsay Livingston The Lean Green Bean Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

I'm a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

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