For vegetarians, even wimpy vegetarians like me, dried lentils are a pantry staple. Theyre loaded with fiber, protein, cook up super fast without pre-soaking, and are budget minded.
But they come in different colors, which can be confusing. Different kinds of lentils have varying cooking requirements, and should not be used interchangeably in dishes. Heres a tutorial how to cook lentils and ways to use them.
Lentils to do not require soaking like other pulses. Rinse your lentils with fresh water before boiling to remove any dust or debris. Cook on a stovetop, using 3 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc) to 1 cup of dry lentils. Be sure to use a large enough saucepan as the lentils will double or triple in size.
How to Cook Green Lentils (French or Puy Lentils)
How to Cook Lentils
As mentioned above, different kinds of lentils require different cooking times. But what stays the same is 3 cups of water for every cup of dried lentils. And I always add ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. If youre using table salt, keep the added salt amount to ¼ teaspoon.
1 cup of dried lentils equates to about 2 ½ cups cooked lentils.
Below are some of my favorite recipes for cooking lentils with infused flavors. Mix them with rice, soups, or tossed into salads depending on the type of lentil, as suggested above.
Why Lentils Must Be Soaked Before Cooking
FAQ
How long soak yellow lentils?
Can you cook yellow lentils without soaking?
What happens if you don’t soak lentils?
What happens if you don’t rinse lentils?
Can lentils be soaked in water?
In addition to soaking lentils in water, they can also be soaked in broth for added flavor. When cooking lentils, you can also add aromatics such as garlic, onion, and spices to enhance their flavor. What are some popular dishes that feature lentils?
Which type of lentils is advised to eat – red or black?
The difference between red and black lentils is that red lentils can be sweeter and have a different texture when cooking. Black lentils may have more protein, calcium, iron, and potassium.
Why should you soak lentils?
Soaking lentils helps neutralize those and makes lentils easier on your stomach. It gets rid of the anti-nutrients that can keep the body from fully absorbing the nutrients. Just like beans, lentils contain sugars that can cause flatulence and bloating, soaking and rinsing, helps minimize that.
How long should lentils soak before cooking?
Lentils are tiny, so they don’t need to soak at all to cook in a reasonable amount of time; unsoaked lentils will cook in 15 to 30 minutes depending on the type. But if you want to soak them to potentially ease digestion, aim for a minimum of two hours and a maximum of 12. (Two to four hours is a good starting point.)