Whether they are served as a side dish or main course, lentils are super tasty, highly versatile, and good for you. In this post, we share a recipe roundup of the best healthy lentil recipes. These recipes come from a variety of cuisines, using different types of lentils. The recipes are easy to make even for the novice home cook.
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I have to admit, I’ve never really given lentils much thought. Growing up we didn’t eat them. It’s only been in the last five years that I’ve come to appreciate and enjoy them. And that’s mostly due to learning I needed more fiber in my diet.
What Are Lentils
In order to understand lentils, it’s important to understand the term as it connects to pulses and legumes. These are three common food words that are often thrown around. Although the word pulse is not as commonly used in the US as it is in the UK, Americans eat pulses all the time without even knowing it.
Pulses are the edible, dried seeds of plants in the legume family. (See this post here about the difference between pulses and legumes). They grow in pods. Pulses are the seeds that come from inside these pods. Lentils are one of the 11 types of pulses.
Put simply, lentils are the seeds that come from legumes. So, then what are legumes? Legumes include familiar foods including beans, peas, and even peanuts. And, lentils are a type of pulse. Confused?
Lentils are an extremely popular ingredient used in Middle Eastern, Indian and European cuisines. They have a wide variety of health benefits but are also one of the most sustainable sources of food on the planet.
Looking for more healthy recipes? Check out The Best Healthy Bean Recipes or the Best Instant Pot Chickpea Recipes.
Why Make Lentils
Do you know just how healthy lentils are for you? Pound for pound, lentils are some of the healthiest and most sustainable foods you can eat. Lentils are high in B vitamins which are important for cell health, eyesight, and energy. Medical studies have shown eating lentils on a regular basis can have a positive effect on appetite control, digestive and heart health.
For vegetarians or those looking to reduce their meat consumption, lentils are an excellent plant-based source of fiber and protein. For cooks of all levels, lentils are a great ingredient to use and hard to mess up. There’s no soaking required with lentils, unlike dry beans. Best of all, they can be prepared in a variety of ways.
Lentil Varieties
There are a wide variety of lentils as well. The most common include red lentils, brown lentils, and green lentils. In Indian and Southern Asian cuisine, there are so many more types of lentils or dal.
Red lentils cook quicker. They are a bit smaller and less dense, which means they soak in the liquid quicker. They are good to use in soups and stews where you want a soft consistency, or where you are using an immersion blender to make a soup creamy.
Brown and green lentils tend to take longer to cook. They also hold their shape better than red lentils. This makes them great for main courses where you want to be able to see the lentils or for lentil salads.
Types of Healthy Lentil Recipes
One of the benefits of cooking with lentils is the variety of cuisines that use lentils. This opens up a world of possibilities when deciding on healthy lentil dishes to cook. The versatility and variety is another benefit of lentils. There are four main types of lentils; red/yellow, brown, green, and specialty. Each type presents a unique opportunity in terms of the ingredients and method used to cook the lentils.
There are countless healthy recipes with lentils. One of our favorites is a healthy lentil soup recipe using red lentils. Adding lentils to a salad will give texture and a boost of fiber and protein. Lentils are great substitutes for potatoes as a side dish. Green lentils work really well alongside roasted chicken, pork, and even rabbit.
We are trying to be mindful of the amount of meat we consume. Mainly for health reasons, but also for sustainability. Being big fans of Indian food, we’ve discovered just how well lentils work as a main dish. Regardless of the type of lentil, Indian lentil curries, with some fresh hot naan, make for the perfect meatless Monday meal.
The Best Healthy Lentil Recipes
Here are our recommendations for fabulous and healthy lentil recipes. We have tried to include a wide variety of lentil recipes. Inside you’ll find side dishes, mains, soups, and salads. More importantly, to keep things interesting, we’ve selected recipes from a number of different cuisines. As we find and test out new recipes, we will continue to update. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
Healthy Lentil Recipes
Whether they are served as a side dish or main course, lentils are super tasty, highly versatile, and good for you. In this post, we share a recipe roundup of the best healthy lentil recipes. These recipes come from a variety of cuisines, using different types of lentils. The recipes are easy to make even for the novice home cook.
Vegan Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup Recipe
This creamy Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup recipe is easy to make in an electric pressure cooker – ready in about 45 minutes. It’s also an entirely versatile soup with different serving options, modifications, and variations.
Lebanese Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe
This fresh Lebanese lemon lentil soup is a hearty soup perfect for springtime. Flavored with turmeric and garlic, it’s a vegan creamy lemon lentil soup
Warm Green French Lentils Salad With Pancetta (Meat)
A tangy warm green French lentil salad with dijon dressing is the perfect protein-packed side dish. With pancetta, shredded carrots, and goat cheese crumbles, it’s a taste of French farmhouse cooking at home.
Lemon Tahini Lentil Hummus
Lemon Tahini Lentil Hummus is an easy, hearty, protein-packed vegetarian side or main dish, bursting with Middle Eastern spices and flavors. This lentil hummus recipe is great with chips, rice, vegetables, or on its own!
Vegan Lentil Wraps With Fresh Salad & Yogurt Garlic Sauce Recipe
These lentil vegan wraps are healthy, filling, dairy-free, nut-free with a gluten-free option available. They are perfect for lunch boxes, picnics, or to be served as a main dish for lunch or dinner.
Rustic French Style Lentils Recipe
This French-style lentils recipe makes the perfect Provencal side dish to any grilled or roasted meat or fish. Made with French green lentils and classically French seasoning it brings the Mediterranean home.
Sheet Pan Salmon, Lentils and Asparagus
Healthy, quick, and effortless Sheet Pan Salmon, Lentils, and Asparagus. A great easy meal prep recipe or a healthy dinner option for busy families.
Vegan Shepherd's Pie
This hearty and nutritious vegan shepherd's pie is loaded with veggies and lentils smothered in a rich tomato-based gravy and topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. This vegetarian version is also gluten-free, oil-free, and lower in fat than the traditional.
Vegan Southwest Lentil Tortilla Soup
This vegan lentil tortilla soup messes with the mind by tasting more like chili than a vegetarian soup made with lentils. Load it up with all of your favorite chili toppings, knowing everything below is meat-free!
Vegan Lentil Loaf
This is the best vegetarian and vegan meatloaf! This easy lentil loaf is stuffed with veggies and lentils and is even better than the classic. Bake it on a sheet pan or stuff into bell peppers. With over 300 5-star reviews, this recipe is a keeper.
Gluten-Free Vegetarian Meatballs (with Red Lentils & Mushrooms)
Once you taste how rich and meaty lentils and mushrooms can be, you’ll be searching your pantry for the simple ingredients you need for these gluten-free lentil meatballs. Meatless Monday is served!
Poached Eggs & Lentil Hash
Meatless doesn’t mean unsatisfying. Poached Eggs & Lentil Hash is so hearty you won’t miss the meat I promise! Healthy, packed with veggies and lots of protein.
Red Lentils with Poached Eggs
This rustic, hearty meal of Red Lentils with Poached Eggs is ready in just 20 minutes. Red Lentils are cooked in fire-roasted diced tomatoes which give the dish so much flavor. Topped with a perfectly cooked runny poached egg, this is a great meatless recipe. I will show you my trick for fool-proof microwave poached eggs.
Thai Lentil Vegan "Meatloaf" with Apricot Glaze
Curry-Ginger Lentil Vegan “Meatloaf.” This gluten-free meatless entrée gives the real deal a run for its money!
Vegan Lentil “Tuna” Spread
This easy lentil tuna spread is not just for vegans. Make it for a healthy and flavorful breakfast or party food that every eater will love!
Pasta with Red Lentils and Ginger
This Pasta with Red Lentils and Ginger recipe is one of our most frequently made weeknight supper meals. This vegetarian pasta dish is fast, tasty, and healthy, with lots of nice garlic flavor along with healthy spinach.
Lentil and Beef Soup (Meat)
This lentil and beef soup is a hearty, easy, and delish dish ideal for those chilly days. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo! Plus, get great tips on how to cook lentils!
Easy Sausage and Lentil Soup Recipe (Meat)
This easy sausage lentil soup recipe that’s made with pantry staples that you probably already have on hand, making it the perfect meal when you can’t decide what’s for dinner or you don’t want to make a trip to the store.
Spanish Chorizo And Beans Recipe (Meat)
This traditional Spanish chorizo and lentil stew is flavorful without being spicy. It’s also packed with fiber and protein with Spanish pardina lentils and vegetables. Any brown or green lentils can be used in place of the pardina lentils.
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Lasagna Soup
Slow Cooker Lentil Lasagna Soup tastes like a big bowl of lasagna with lentils in place of meat, cheese, and a few noodles.
Chicken Lentil Stew and Rhone Wine (Meat)
Chicken Lentil Stew is a hearty recipe featuring braised chicken thighs, lentils, mushrooms, and chicken sausage.
Sausage, Lentil and Cabbage Stew (Meat)
Beer-braised sausages with chorizo, lentils, and red cabbage – an easy and satisfying stew that’s simply perfect for winter!
Pressure Cooker Lamb Dhansak Curry (Meat)
Meet your new favorite dinner! This pressure cooker lamb Dhansak curry is delicious, so easy and mild enough for the whole family to enjoy. As with all curries, it tastes even better the next day… not that you will have any leftovers
Creamy Indian Green Lentil Dhal Recipe
This creamy coconut green lentil dhal recipe is a one-pot meal made with hearty French green lentils. Because the green lentils hold their shape well, it’s a great Indian dish for entertaining.
Cauliflower And Lentil Curry
With a touch of greek yogurt, this creamy cauliflower and lentil curry is easy to prepare as a one-pot dish. A bit of spinach adds fiber to the dish. Skip the greek yogurt, or use coconut yogurt, to make a vegan cauliflower and lentil curry as an option. Serve with warm basmati rice or warm naan.
Idli Recipe - Indian Rice & Lentil Cake
Idli is a soft, pillowy steamed savory cake made from rice and lentil batter. Idli is naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and makes for one of the healthiest breakfasts.
Healthy Adai Dosa - Indiana Rice & Lentil Pancake
Adai is a delicious protein-rich rice and lentils pancake from South Indian cuisine. Various greens or veggies can be added to adai to make it more healthy and nutritious.
Easy Kongunadu Arisi Parupu Sadam - Instant Pot Indian Lentil Rice
Lentil Rice is one of the popular Indian special recipes. This is an easy lunch recipe and perfect for a lunch box. Making it in Instant pot is still the easier way.
Harissa Vegetarian Moroccan Lentil Stew Recipe
This harissa-spiked vegetarian Moroccan lentil stew recipe includes the perfect balance of sweet and savory with a touch of heat. It’s perfect as a main course or a side dish to serve alongside couscous or other Moroccan dishes.
Spicy Turkish Bulgur Red Lentil Soup
Ezo Gelin Corba is a spicy lentil soup made with red lentils, bulgur wheat, spicy red pepper paste, and tomato paste. It is finished using traditional Turkish flavorings.
Mujadara- Middle Eastern Lentil Rice
Mujadara is a Middle Eastern lentil rice dish served with flavorful caramelized onions that were fried in olive oil. This simple dish is naturally vegan, made with just pantry ingredients so it’s incredibly frugal, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Mshosh- Armenia Vegan Lentil Salad
Mshosh is a very simple and filling vegan lentil salad from Armenia. Made with a few easily available ingredients like brown lentil, dried apricot, plums, and walnuts, it’s very easy to make and tastes delicious.
Mercimek Koftesi -Vegan Turkish Red Lentil and Bulgur Kofte
Mercimek Koftesi, Vegan Turkish kofte that is made with red lentils and bulgur, and the best part is, these are not deep-fried. Stuff it inside some crisp lettuce to enjoy as an appetizer or lunch.
