How Do you Cook Lentils

Learn How To Cook Lentils to tender perfection with this complete tutorial on preparing and cooking lentils of different varieties. Brown lentils, red lentils, black lentils and French lentils are flavorful, inexpensive and incredibly nutritious. Lentils are the perfect plant-protein addition to your meals.

If you love lentil recipes as much as we do, check my favorite Lentil Soup recipe!

Dried lentils are a year round pantry staple that is loaded with nutrients and flavor. This superfood has an earthy quality and delicious taste. Cooking lentils is easy, quick and no-soaking is required. Sounds too good to be true? It is!

Lentils were part of our meals growing up. My grandma made many different lentil recipes, like stews, curries and soups. She also added lentils to salads and rice recipes as a way to incorporate additional protein and fiber in our diets.

Lentils are small round legumes packed with nutrients. They are high in protein and fiber, low in fat and are also gluten-free. They are believed to have originated in the Middle East but are now cultivated all around the world. Lentils are a staple in many cuisines including India and the Mediterranean among others.

There are about a dozen varieties of lentils to choose from and each one of them works well for different recipes however, you can prepare all varieties the same way. Preparing lentils is easy and only requires two steps:

1. Sort: Sift through the dried lentils and pick out any small stones, discolored lentils or stray bits.
2. Rinse: Place the lentils in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water.

As I mentioned above, there are many varieties of lentils however, the ones you will most likely find at your local supermarket or specialty store are the following:

French Lentils, French Green Lentils, De Puy Lentils

French lentils also known as “lentilles vertes”, or green lentils in French are dark green in color and smaller than standard green lentils. They have a more intense flavor compared to other varieties. French lentils have a pleasant peppery taste and are hearty and firm in texture. They take a bit longer to cook but hold their shape well which makes them ideal for salads and warm side dishes.

Puy lentils or lentils de Puy are the same variety as French lentils except that they have been grown in the region of Puy in France. This area has volcanic soil which gives them a deeper peppery taste.

• Sort and Rinse: Sift through the dried lentils and pick out any small stones, discolored lentils or stray bits. Place the lentils in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water
• Cook: Add 1 cup of lentils, 4 cups of water and a bay leaf to a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 25 to 30 minutes or until tender.
• Drain: Drain and remove the bay leaf.

• French Lentils Cooking Time: Cook French lentils on the stove top for 25 to 30 minutes. You can cook French lentils in the Instant Pot on high pressure for 9 minutes. After the cooking cycle is complete, do a quick pressure release.

Brown Lentils or Green Lentils

These are one of the most common lentils and the easiest lentils to find at any market. Brown lentils are flat little disks with a mild, hearty and earthy flavor. Brown lentils are firm and for the most part hold their shape, but will break up easily if overcooked. Brown lentils are incredibly versatile and often used to make soups and stews. They can also be used in dips and to make burgers.

• Sort and Rinse: Sift through the dried lentils and pick out any small stones, discolored lentils or stray bits. Place the brown lentils in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water
• Cook: Add 1 cup of brown lentils, 4 cups of water (or enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches) and a bay leaf to a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 20 to 25 minutes or until tender.
• Drain: Drain and remove the bay leaf.

• Brown Lentils Cooking Time: Cook Brown lentils on the stove top for 20 to 25 minutes. You can cook brown lentils in the Instant pot on high pressure for 10 minutes or 11 minutes if you prefer a softer texture. After the cooking cycle is complete, do a quick pressure release.

Red Lentils, Orange Lentils and Yellow Lentils

Red and orange lentils are simply yellow lentils that have been hulled and split. These lentils cook much quicker than any other variety and can become very soft and lose their shape quickly. Red lentils have a mild, nutty flavor and soft, creamy texture. Red lentils are mostly used for stews, curries, purees and for the famous Red Lentil Dal.

• Sort and Rinse: Sift through the dried lentils and pick out any small stones, discolored lentils or stray bits. Place the lentils in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water
• Cook: Add 1 cup of red lentils, 3 cups of water (or enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches). Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 15 to 20 minutes or until tender.
• Drain: Drain.

• Red Lentils Cooking Time: Cook Red lentils on the stove top for 15 to 20 minutes.

Black Lentils (Beluga Lentils)

Black Lentils are small and pearl-shape. They are also called Beluga lentils because of their resemblance to caviar. Black lentils are earthy, rich and very tasty. Black lentils have a thick skin and hold their shape well. Black lentils are said to have the most nutrients of all the lentils.

How To Cook Lentils (Black)

• Sort and Rinse: Sift through the dried lentils and pick out any small stones, discolored lentils or stray bits. Place the black lentils in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water
• Cook: Add 1 cup of black lentils, 3 – 4 cups of water ((or enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches) and a bay leaf to a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered for about 25 minutes or until tender.
• Drain: Drain and remove the bay leaf.

How Long To Cook Lentils (Black)

• Black Lentils Cooking Time: Cook Black lentils on the stove top for about 25 minutes. or until tender. You can cook black lentils in the Instant pot on high pressure for 9 minutes. After the cooking cycle is complete, do a quick pressure release.

If you want to add extra flavor to lentils, here are a few flavor boosters:

• Cook dry lentils in vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.
• Add aromatics to the cooking water or broth. Sliced onions, fresh garlic cloves and thin slices of carrots are easy additions that add a lot of flavor.
• Add herbs like fresh thyme sprigs, fresh parsley or dried bay leaves.
• Add some spices and seasonings. Whole peppercorns, dried chiles, vegetable or chicken bouillon are good options.
• Add a small piece of kombu for flavor and added nutrients.
• Smoked meats like smoked ham bones or turkey bones will add a ton of flavor with very little effort.
• Bacon is probably my favorite flavor booster for lentils. My mom makes the absolute best lentil stew with lots of garlic, tomatoes and crispy bacon. This is what my kids always ask grandma to make for dinner (my little one is vegetarian so no bacon for him).

The best way to check if your lentils are tender and done is to taste them. Keep in mind that different varieties have different textures however, they should be tender and not too al dente. After a taste, if you want the lentils to be softer, simply simmer them longer.

You can store cooked lentils in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Yes, you can freeze cooked lentils for up to 3 months. My preferred method is to spread the lentils on a sheet pan or baking pan and freeze them for 2 hours. After that, I place them in an airtight container or freezer safe resealable bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.

If you prefer quick and simple, you can just store the lentils in in an airtight container or freezer safe resealable bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Storing lentils this way is perfectly fine but defrosting may take a little longer than the method above.

Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.