This is a complete guide to all of your lentil questions + 49 delicious vegan lentil recipes that cover every type of lentil and ways to cook them!
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I absolutely love lentils! I guess you do too because you’re here looking for more vegan lentil recipes to try! Lentils are one of my favorite ingredients to cook with because 1) they taste delicious, 2) they’re very inexpensive, and 3) you can use lentils for so many different types of recipes! Lentils can be used for soup, salads, veggie burgers, veggie meatballs, chili, stews, dahl, curry recipes, sloppy joes, lasagna, meatloaf, taco filling, and so much more!!!
What Type of Vegan Lentil Recipes Will You Find in This Roundup?
- Green lentil recipes
- French lentil recipes
- Red lentil recipes
- Black lentil recipes
- Canned lentil recipes
- Indian lentil recipes
- Lentil soup recipe
- Lentil side dish recipes
- Instant pot lentil recipes
- Brown lentil soup
- Vegan lentil stew
- Lentil recipes that are not soup
- Gluten-free lentil recipes
You might be wondering how you can make all of these different recipes using lentils? What can I do with lentils? What type of lentil should you use? Which lentil variety tastes the best? How many lentil varieties are there?! There are so many options!
I’ve broken the recipes down into categories based on which type of lentil is used. Plus, there is a canned lentil recipes section and an instant pot lentil recipes section at the end of the post if those are the type of recipes you’re looking for. Before we get into the recipes, let’s go over some of the most asked lentils questions.
What Do Lentils Taste Like?
Lentils are part of the legume family so you might think they will taste like beans. Lentils kind of look like small beans but they don’t exactly taste like beans. Depending on the variety of lentil you choose, lentils can taste creamy, firm, meaty, peppery, earthy, or sweet. Lentils also cook a lot quicker than beans so it’s a great option if you want to get dinner ready in less than one hour!
Are Lentils Good For Vegans?
Yes, lentils are fantastic for vegans to eat! Lentils are low-fat and contain high amounts of protein, calcium, fiber, iron, and other vitamins. Lentils can be part of the main course in veggie burgers, lentil meatballs, or in lentil soups. Lentils can also be delicious mixed into salads, with vegetables, or with other grains to make a super filling side dish.
Are Lentils Filling?
Are lentils filling? Yes! Lentils are extremely filling! I can promise you that you won’t feel hungry after eating a bowl of red lentil curry or lentil soup. You’ll be very full but in a good way because lentils are so healthy for you!
Why Are Lentils Healthy?
Lentils are very healthy, and not just for people who follow a plant-based diet. Lentils are healthy for everyone!
- Lentils are high in fiber.
- Lentils are high in folate and magnesium.
- Lentils support a healthy heart.
- Lentils help to balance blood sugar while supplying lasting energy.
- Lentils are high in iron.
If you want to learn more about why lentils are healthy for you, read this article.
Do You Have to Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?
You do not have to soak lentils before you cook them. This rule applies to most people. However, if you eat a lentil dish and find yourself developing an upset stomach afterward then you might want to try soaking the lentils before cooking them and see if that helps. Some people are sensitive to the outer shell of the lentil and that can cause indigestion. By soaking the lentils in cold water for 2 hours before you cook with them, it will make the lentils easier for you to digest.
I will say that I never soak lentils before I cook with them and no one in my family has ever had an issue.
Do You Have to Rinse Lentils?
Yes, it’s very important to rinse your lentils very well before cooking them. You should also look through the lentils and keep your eyes peeled for any small rocks or debris. I like to pour the lentils into a mesh strainer (like this one), hold it under cool running water, and use my hand to scoop up handfuls of the lentils to look through while rinsing them off. I found multiple rocks over the years so, please, don’t skip this step! You could break a tooth if you bite into one of those hard rocks.
I’ve also found that brown, green, and french lentils are much easier to clean. I have to put red lentils into a pot, fill it with water, swish it around a few times, drain, and then repeat 2-3 more times to get clear water. The red lentils let off so much dirt!
What Is The Difference Between Red And Green Lentils?
Green lentils and red lentils are extremely different. Here are the four main differences:
- Texture: Green lentils are firm and will hold their shape after being cooked. Red lentils will have a soft and creamy consistency after being cooked.
- Taste: Green lentils have more of an earthy taste, while red lentils taste sweeter.
- Cooking Time: Green lentils take 35-40 minutes to cook while red lentils take only 10-15 minutes to cook.
- Color: Just in case this wasn’t obvious, red lentils are red and green lentils are green.
What Food Goes With Lentils?
I can’t really think of any vegan food that doesn’t go with lentils. You can mix lentils with quinoa, rice, cauliflower rice, pasta, fruit (citrus), or vegetables. There are so many ways to enjoy lentils and I’m sharing a ton of them in this post!
What To Put On Plain Lentils
I actually really enjoy eating hot plain lentils as a side dish, they’re delicious! However, if you don’t want to eat plain lentils, try mixing them with roasted seasoned vegetables, adding them to your salad and drizzling your favorite dressing on top, or mix them into your bowl of spaghetti and tomato sauce.
The Ultimate List of Lentil Recipes
The following list of seriously good lentil recipes has been broken down into categories by which lentil you should use to make the recipe. Plus, each category has the flavor profile, cook time, pros, cons, and what you should make with that type of lentil. This list of lentil recipes has any meal you could possibly want and each recipe is guaranteed to be delicious! Scroll to the end of this post if you’re looking for tasty instant pot lentil recipes or canned lentil recipes.
Green Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: Green lentils have an earthy, peppery flavor.
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Pros: Green lentils are inexpensive, easy to find, and they taste delicious!
- Cons: None
- What to Make with Green Lentils: Green lentils hold their shape and color after being cooked so they’re perfect for vegan lentil meatballs, casseroles, and sloppy joe’s.
Try These Easy Green Lentil Recipes!
You can't go wrong with any of these easy green lentil recipes! Green lentil soup, green lentil meatballs, and green lentil chili are fan favorites!
These delicious vegan meatballs are packed full of lentils and quinoa! They have the perfect texture and will please any meat-eater! Vegan, nut-free, soy-free.
Red cabbage rolls stuffed with a flavorful mixture of onions, lentils, brown rice, and Italian seasonings. This is one of our favorite healthy, inexpensive dinners! Tastes just like grandma’s cabbage rolls but without the meat! Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free.
Flavorful vegan lentil meatballs nestled into a hoagie bun and topped with tomato sauce and melted vegan cheese. These super saucy vegan meatball subs are healthy comfort food and picky husband approved! Vegan, dairy-free, soy-free.
Vegan lentil sloppy joes are sure to be a hit because they're classic comfort food that everyone knows and loves! The flavorful tangy sauce has two secret ingredients that will make you want to lick every last drop of sauce off the plate. Vegan + gluten-free.
Tender slices of garlicky roasted portobello mushrooms and protein-packed lentils swimming in a flavorful green pea basil pesto sauce. Vegan.
You only need one pot to make this vegan lentil chili and you can easily customize it with whatever veggies you have in your fridge. It has two flavor-loaded ingredients that you’d never expect to find in chili! Vegan.
This vegan lentil chickpea soup is creamy, cozy, and comforting! Basically, everything you want in a bowl of soup. Vegan + gluten-free.
This delicious Mexican lentil soup is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free! The best healthy veggie soup to warm up with. Packed with protein, fiber, and veggies, this Mexican lentil soup is a complete one-pot meal.
This vegan curry soup is loaded with classic curry spices, baby gold potatoes and green lentils. It has all the feels of comfort food so your family will never guess it’s completely loaded with healthy ingredients!
Healthy and tasty, this Green Lentil Tabbouleh Salad is a nutrient-packed recipe that makes a great lunch or side dish. It is naturally vegan, gluten free, and high in protein. Fresh parsley, mint, cucumber, tomato, and lemon juice give this salad a ton of flavor.
French (or Puy) Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: French lentils taste nutty, peppery, and earthy.
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Pros: They hold their shape extremely well and taste delicious.
- Cons: None
- What to Make with Puy Lentils: Since french lentils hold their shape well and have a beautiful color, I love to make curry, shepherd’s pie, and salads with this variety of lentil.
Try These Flavorful French or Puy Lentil Recipes!
These are the best french lentils recipes and they're sure to please everyone!
Skip the Thai restaurant and make the BEST curried lentils at home! It’s easy to make, it’s loaded with flavor, and it only requires 10 ingredients. Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free.
This hearty Vegan Lentil Salad is a nutritional powerhouse packed with French lentils, mushrooms, and lemon. And it comes together fast with just a handful of ingredients which you probably already have in your pantry!
Vegan Shepherds Pie is easy to make in just 30 minutes and is full of nourishing ingredients. This tasty hearty comfort food brings mushrooms and lentils together under a blanket of crushed potatoes. Vegan and gluten-free.
A fresh and zesty salad of quinoa, lentils and tomatoes with a simple lemon and oil dressing. Simple, fresh and satisfying this is a great Summer salad.
Brown Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: Brown lentils have a mild and earthy flavor.
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Pros: Brown lentils are the most common variety so they’re very easy to find and are inexpensive. They also hold their shape well after being cooked.
- Cons: The color of the cooked brown lentil isn’t as appealing as the other varieties.
- What to Make with Brown Lentils: Because of their lack of color, brown lentils are perfect for blending into pasta sauce, vegan meatballs, or lentil soup.
Try These Tasty Brown Lentil Recipes!
Transform regular ol' brown lentils into something special with one of these delicious brown lentil recipes!
This comforting Hearty Lentil Soup recipe is easy to make and full of earthy flavor. This healthy rustic Italian vegetarian and vegan soup will warm you up!
These flavorful Jamaican Lentil Patties is a gluten-free and vegan version of the very popular Jamaican beef patty. Savory lentils cooked with aromatic herbs and spices in a buttery pastry.
Vegan Lentil Balls Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe has so many tasty ingredients wrapped up in one appetizer. Perfect crispy little baked balls are served with a rich sauce.
This Lentil Quinoa with Asparagus and Peas is a tasty whole-foods dish using spring produce. It’s a one-pot meal so there’s not much cleanup – it’s a win-win!
This Spanish-style vegan lentil stew is easy to make with very simple ingredients and perfect for vegans on a serious budget. Hearty and comforting, this oil-free recipe is great as a plant-based main dish for chilly evenings or as a side for a summer barbeque or picnic. It’s a freezer-friendly meal that comes in at only $0.50 a serving.
This vegan Lentil Bolognese makes a great weeknight or Sunday dinner. Switching in lentils as the protein in the bolognese makes the sauce vegan yet still hearty.
Yellow & Red Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: Yellow and red lentils have a sweet, creamy, nutty flavor. They’re also known as split lentils because they have been split into smaller pieces.
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Pros: Yellow and red lentils cook quickly because they’re smaller, so you can get dinner ready super fast!
- Cons: They can easily turn to mush if you overcook them.
- What to Make with Red Lentils: Indian dahl, creamy curry dishes, lasagna, or wherever you want a thick and creamy consistency.
Try These Easy Red Lentil Recipes!
Red lentils are so tasty, creamy, and versatile! Try one of these easy red lentil recipes: red lentil dahl, red lentil soup recipes, or red lentil curry.
This Lemon Lentil Soup makes for a hearty, nutritious and flavour packed soup perfect for the whole family. It can be prepared in less than 30 minutes and also makes a great freezer meal! {Vegan & gluten-free}
This incredibly delicious curry is easy to make and super healthy for any day of the week.
These lentil vegan tacos 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.
This Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup is also know as Harira Soup and is full of incredible flavors. You will be thrilled by this one pot meal which is naturally vegan and gluten free.
Slow cooker creamy red lentil spinach soup!
A great finger food for kids and babies; made with only lentils, spinach and spices.
Hearty and delicious! This easy soup is loaded with healthy protein and fiber-rich ingredients! It’s vegan and gluten-free too
This quick and easy red lentil dahl is packed with flavour, but is super-simple to make. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free.
These Vegan Lettuce Wraps are light, healthy, and packed with rich umami flavor. Also, you can put them together with ease in 25 minutes or less.
Thai Red Curry Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup delivers delicious Thai-inspired comfort and warmth in a hurry!
I don’t say this lightly. This truly is the BEST Vegan Lasagna! Layered with a tofu-cashew ricotta, red lentil marinara and loads of fresh spinach, this lasagna is protein packed with 26 grams per serving and is sure to satisfy!
Red Lentil Stew with Chickpeas and Orzo is just as hearty as it’s name. Luckily, you can throw all the ingredients in your slow cooker for a few hours and dinner is served!
Black (or Beluga) Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: Black lentils have a rich earthy flavor and they taste similar to a black bean.
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Pros: Black lentils are the superfood of lentils, 1/2 cup of uncooked lentils contains a whopping 26 grams of protein! Plus, they contain anthocyanin which is the antioxidant that’s found in naturally purple vegetables like red cabbage!
- Cons: They are a little bit more expensive than other lentil varieties.
- What to Make with Black Lentils: Black lentils are black, small, and look like caviar. They hold their shape well so they’re perfect for salads or mixing with vegetables.
Try These Beautiful Black Lentil Recipes!
Black lentils taste delicious and make a beautiful presentation. If you're looking for a vegan black lentil recipe that is extra special, try one of these recipes: black lentil salad, black lentil soup, or black lentil stew.
A hearty soup that can be made ahead and frozen. Tastes great served over mashed potatoes too.
This Beluga Lentil salad is easy to prepare, vegan, and the perfect warming dish for fall and winter.
The ultimate nutritious comfort food.
Tajine Lentil Stew makes a delicious vegan main with or without the roasted cauliflower. This smoky and hearty braise can be made in an authentic tajine or in a Dutch oven.
This lentil soup is the perfect comfort complete healthy meal for the entire family.
Instant Pot Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: You can use any type of lentil for an instant pot lentil recipe, so I would say the flavor profile is…delicious!
- Cook Time: Depends on the type of lentil you use.
- Pros: You can make an instant pot lentil recipe super quick and without a lot of hands-on cooking.
- Cons: You can easily overcook the lentils in the instant pot, so make sure you follow the cooking times closely.
- What to Make with Instant Pot Lentils: It’s easy and convenient to make lentil soup, stew, and curries in the instant pot.
Try These Easy Instant Pot Lentil Recipes!
If you're looking for a quick and easy lentil recipe, try one of these instant pot recipes: instant pot lentil chili, instant pot red lentil soup, or lentil mushroom soup.
Instant Pot Lentil Mushroom Stew with Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes. 1 Pot 30 Minute. Upside down Lentil Shepherds Pie! Vegan Glutenfee Nutfree Soyfree Recipe Stovetop option.
This deliciously easy vegan lentil chili is sure to impress! With stove-top, Instant Pot, and slow cooker versions all in this post, you can whip it up any way you choose with minimal effort. Whoo!
Instant Pot Lentil Soup is comforting and easy to make. You can walk away and let your pressure cooker do all the work! This recipe is vegan and gluten-free.
This Instant Pot Lentil Soup is vegan, gluten-free, packed with protein and bursting with Mexican flavours. If you want a super easy and filling recipe, this is it. Post also includes Weight Watchers points.
These vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes are made in the Instant Pot with just a few simple and inexpensive ingredients. Freezer-friendly and kid-friendly, these sandwiches are the perfect healthy comfort food.
Harira is a traditional Moroccan recipe – a hearty nourishing soup packed with lentils, chickpeas and lots of vegetables. Delicious, satisfying and quick to make in your Instant Pot.
Curried red lentil soup with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and coconut milk, made in the Instant Pot, and ready in 30 minutes.
Canned Lentil Recipes
- Flavor Profile: Canned lentils usually contain brown lentils (unless they’re labeled something else). Brown lentils taste earthy and mild, they’re very delicious.
- Cook Time: Canned lentils are already cooked. Just rinse the lentils and drain them well.
- Pros: Canned lentils are very convenient because they’re cooked and ready to eat.
- Cons: Canned lentils are a little more expensive because they’re already cooked.
- What to Make with Canned Lentils: Canned lentils are great for when you want a super quick meal or if you’re making a recipe with a lot of steps and you want to cut down on your prep time.
If you're looking for a super quick and healthy meal, try using one of these canned lentil recipes: lentil salad orlentil meatloaf muffins. Roasted Chickpea Lentil Salad – Fresh parsley & mint, chopped veggies and zesty lemons | Gluten Free + Vegan If you're a fan of sloppy joe's you will love these lentil stuffed sweet potatoes! Lentil Meatloaf Muffins are easy to make and perfect for holidays and family dinners. You can skip the oil if you use a non-stick silicone muffin pan. Otherwise prepare your muffin pan with a little oil or spray. This recipe makes 12 meatless meatloaf muffins. You can double or triple the recipe if feeding a crowd. I make 2 muffins per person. Moroccan Spiced Vegan Shepherd's Pie - classic comfort food with a Middle Eastern twist. Creamy lentils spiced with cumin and coriander topped with a fluffy sweet potato mash | Gluten Free + Vegan Warm lentil salad is an easy 6 ingredient weeknight meal. It takes less than 40 minutes to prepare and makes excellent leftovers.Try These Convenient Canned Lentil Recipes!
If you try any of these vegan lentil recipes, please post a picture on Instagram, tag @Stacey_Homemaker and use the hashtag #StaceyHomemaker so I can see your delicious creation!
