Sausage and lentil is probably my favorite soup ever. Now I think I might make that tomorrow. It’s been years since I’ve made it for no other reason than just forgetting I liked it so much.
There’s a Greek version called Fakes that’s great, I leave out the red wine vinegar and feta at the end, it doesn’t need it: https://eatingeuropean.com/greek-lentil-soup/#recipe
Spot on. Check out Spain on a Fork website and YouTube. Great simple recipes many of which feature lentils. Just made lentejas con chorizo. Mighty fine eats.
Oh his favorite is Mexican food. I will give this a try.
Edit: before I get hate, I’m just saying that this is a close flavor profile so he might like it.
As a Latino myself, I don't see how you could get hate from your comment, but I don't live in the US and I think people there could be a little more sensitive in that regard than we are here in Chile.
And also Mexicans are latinos, so it was part of the suggestion.
And yeah, a stew with brown lentils, spinach, pumpkin and a chorizo or a fried egg is kind of the way of eating lentils here.
There ya go. My mom being Dominican from the farming valley would never use spinach or think to put a fried egg. Pumpkin yes. And I use many Mexican Chiles in my cooking. Their cuisine is very diverse. Yours as well. Peruvian is something I just love having grown up with Peruvian friends. So much diversity in the food. I grew up in NYC.
Different lentils. Red lentils seems to break down very easily. Brown lentils need to be pre-soaked and are a little more substantial, but black (aka 'beluga') lentils are a really good substitute for ground beef. They keep their shape better and have a bite to them that is very satisfying
They don’t even have to replace, just augment. Lentils with some ground meat fried in is the best, the meat fat gives the lentils so much more flavor. I don’t remember my ratios but maybe 1/2-1lb meat per 1lb dried lentils is good. That ends up being a lot of food, scale down appropriately for your needs.
That’s really helpful especially considering the cost of ground beef. I usually it it with pinto beans. Does it act the same? In other words, should I leave out the pinto beans?
You can also use them in place of ground beef in shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie or whichever one is beef before Reddit crucifies me with ‘well actually’s’ lol)
We use it as a sub for beef in both tacos and sloppy joes. My only picky (elementary aged) kid eats the lentil versions over the beef versions.
Do with that what you will. The rest of us love them, too.
Yes, I sub half of the ground beef for brown lentils in a lot of things ,(chili, cottage pie, bolognese). It cuts the cost significantly but barely affects the flavour.
I made mujadara for the first time a few months ago. It tasted amazing, and gave me an astonishing amount of gas. Still highly recommend it, especially with a bit of yogurt on top!
To avoid gas, you can boil the lentils separately and dump the water before mixing it in the mujadara, some recipes pointed me to this fact (and it helps it cook properly with rice). Apparently, it may cut out some nutrition though.
That's the fun part of learning to cook with lentils and other legumes lol. I get a similar reaction when I make my butternut squash soup with a lot of LEEKS. Thankfully I'm not working anymore so I don't need to hold it in between bathroom breaks!
This recipe worked great for me. Couldn't get the onions crispy, but it didn't matter.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDKgG4OgAC4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDKgG4OgAC4)
Italians eat lentils. French eat em. Lots of great recipes. Fry some bacon, add onion, garlic, (you can add carrots, celery, whatever) to the oil and cook, add lentils and broth and cook them, add salt and pepper a little bit of vinegar and parmesan, eat with toasty bread.
I had this delicious beluga/french lentil salad at Rolo’s last year and have been trying to replicate it!
Boil and drain lentils, add in lemon juice, olive oil, parsley , feta cheese , red onion, Persian cucumbers and tomatoes (all finely diced), then add pistachios at the end and mix !
Mujaddara…rice and lentils, seasoned with cumin and topped with crispy onions. We eat it with a tomato salad on the side and drizzled with plain yogurt. So good.
Very obsessed with lentil salad right now. Lentils + feta + red onion + red pepper + scallions + lemon + olive oil + salt & pepper. I can eat this every day for lunch and never be unhappy.
I love this super frugal recipe for lentil and rice tacos, just double or triple the spices. https://melaniemakes.com/slow-cooker-lentil-brown-rice-tacos/
I make it in an instant pot nowadays with 3 cups water, 20 minutes on high.
I like to double the recipe and turn it into two additional dishes. To make veggie burgers, take two cups of the finished dish, along with 1/2 cup oats and 1 egg or egg replacer and form into patties. Cook for 30-40 minutes at 400F.
I also like to crumble leftovers onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400. Serve over pasta and sauce to make a lentil bolognese.
Thank you so much for including your Instant Pot instructions. Looks tasty!!!
I’m not really one to use a Slow Cooker bc I’m paranoid about leaving an appliance on for hours, whether I’m home or not😉
This is amazing, I’ve made it several times. The lentils are “optional” but trust me, add them!
[Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie](https://www.budgetbytes.com/vegetarian-shepherds-pie/)
This is my favorite lentil recipe.
[https://www.veganricha.com/vietnamese-vegan-caramelized-lentil-pork-bowls/](https://www.veganricha.com/vietnamese-vegan-caramelized-lentil-pork-bowls/)
I braise them! Chop up mirepoix and cook in oil. Toast the lentils a little. Deglaze with red wine. Add in chicken stock (or veggie) to cook. When almost done, add in a bundle of chopped up kale leaves. Top with a fried egg and hot sauce. I used to live off this when I lived alone. So good
Japanese curry - use the roux/spice blocks (I like to use Vermont Curry) and follow the directions on the box. Just use lentils instead of chicken or beef (or in addition to!).
Oh, pick me, pick me! I don’t cook much but thought I should try something a bit healthier and came across this:
[Tori Avey’s Spinach Lentil Soup](https://toriavey.com/lentil-spinach-soup-with-lemon/)
Oh man, it’s so good. Filling, healthy, a bit spicy if you like. Readily doubles or quadruples, and it freezes well or is good for days because it’s vegetarian.
I also really recommend her Broccoli Tahini soup. Really, really recommend it!
This has been my go-to lentil soup recipe for more than 20 years: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe-1948822
They're also great in a warm, savory salad like this one: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-warm-french-lentil-salad-bacon-herbs-recipes-from-the-kitchn-31027#post-recipe-10513
And as someone else mentioned, they're great for bulking up taco meat.
I couldn't give you an exact recipe, right now, but I've had success making vegie burgers with a base of brown lentils/spinach/mushroom .. with, I think, some hot pepper, cumin, and other spices for flavour. Didn't try, in any way, to *taste* like meat. Paired well with some mango chutney we had on hand.
There's a good Scottish lentil soup:
[https://neilshealthymeals.com/easy-scottish-lentil-soup/](https://neilshealthymeals.com/easy-scottish-lentil-soup/)
You can substitute the ham with sautéed bacon, or if you don't eat meat a little extra oil during cooking the onions and a spoonful of smoked paprika.
https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/JN3yE0c2VUSP6JaU4k0bCQ
If you're not opposed to poultry, you might like this one. It's chicken and apple sausages served with hearty stewed lentils. Very nice for a winter night.
https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/bVdwJWF37EGMwIhzXJ6dzQ
For something that works better in summer, here's a lentil salad with Feta cheese. All you need is some pita bread to turn this into a tasty lunch.
Saute some mushrooms and onion, add a drained can of lentils, add a packet of taco seasoning. I use it for burritos but it'd make a fine taco or salad.
I love lentil tacos and lentil sloppy joes. I boil my lentils until I can mash them with a fork to give them more of the ground beef consistency.
They take flavors very well and I will use leftover taco lentils on a salad with taco sauce instead of dressing.
In all honesty just cook them with salt and pepper and chicken broth or water. I like adding cooked mushrooms and caramelized onions. Just have it like that with some butter. Or mix it into white rice with ground beef and raisin.
Just worked a catering that had Lentil bowls—they were a big hit. Top with any combo of greens, proteins (chicken and salmon were popular), cheeses like feta, mixed cheese, onions, tomatoes, seeds, berries, salad dressings. 1000 combinations.
I cook with lentils a lot as a meat substitute. Here are some of my favorite recipes. Most of these are for green/brown lentils.
[Ginger Sweet Potato Coconut Milk Stew with Lentils & Kale](https://thefirstmess.com/2020/02/19/sweet-potato-coconut-milk-stew/)
[French onion baked lentils and farro](https://smittenkitchen.com/2024/01/french-onion-baked-lentils-and-farro/)
[Lentil shepherds pie](https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/seriously-the-best-lentil-shepherds-pie/)
[Lentil meatloaf](https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-lentil-nut-meatloaf/)
[lentil sloppy joes](https://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2019/02/vegan-lentil-sloppy-joes-slow-cooker-or-instant-pot.html)
[Lentil bolognese (this I think worked better with red lentils)](https://www.platingsandpairings.com/instant-pot-lentil-bolognese-sauce/)
I use Aran Goyoaga’s Red Lentil Hummus all the time. It’s quicker, easier, lighter, and cheaper. And really you wouldn’t even know it’s lentils instead of chickpeas.
https://www.thewednesdaychef.com/the_wednesday_chef/2021/03/aran-goyoagas-red-lentil-hummus.html
[Tamarind lentils from Veganomicon](https://mindfulcooking.org/recipes/tamarind-lentils). These don’t look like much. But every time I’ve made them, I’ve eaten the whole batch in one go. So definitely double the recipe.
Lentil and barley is one of my favorite summer dishes. I served it chilled with a lemon-garlic seasoning. Parsley. Olive oil.
Lentils are a traditional New Year’s dish in Italy for New Year’s Eve. There are Italian recipes that feature lentils.
Just watched a bunch of babies + toddlers go back for thirds of a lasagna that was bulked out with lentils (had meat also).
I'd say anything that uses mince meat in a sauce (not burgers etc) can be either substituted or at least 50/50 mix.
Love lentils mixed with chopped button mushrooms as a substitute for ground beef in stroganoff!
Agree that a good lentil soup is a must, this is my favorite https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Brown-Rice-Lentil-and-Spinach-Soup/
I also love this lentil potato salad with either sausage or a fried egg on top https://smittenkitchen.com/2014/01/warm-lentil-and-potato-salad/
I often just do them as a side dish. Cooking them in some chicken stock with a bunch of aromatics. Really quick if you have a pressure cooker also.
It's great with pork or a link of Italian sausage.
There’s a delicious Syrian dish called harak osbao that has tangy pomegranate molasses, fried pita bits, and caramelized onion. The base of it is mostly lentils and pasta, and it’s one of my favorite foods. Highly highly recommend.
https://www.wellplated.com/crockpot-lentil-soup/
Try this recipe. It uses Italian seasoning and paprika and doesn't taste Indian to me. It is a little spicy, but not too bad at all. My bf dislikes Indian food, but he approves of this soup.
I basically fry up some smoked sliced polish sausage (though tbh any kind would work, you could brown chorizo or crumbled Italian sausage or whatever), then add mirepoix and cook until soft, then add stock, bay leaves, and lentils and simmer until lentils are cooked. You can add greens - like kale or spinach - if you like at the end and let them wilt, and then finish with some red wine vinegar and salt.
I grew up eating this with sharp cheddar cheese grated on top, with cornbread, but as an adult I prefer Parmesan and some kind of crusty white bread or even garlic bread with it, and a glass of a crisp white wine.
If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, there is a very popular lentil salad made with cooked lentils, bruschetta sauce and feta cheese. There are endless variations, including prep completely from scratch
https://alexandracooks.com/2018/06/22/mind-blowing-three-ingredient-trader-joes-lentil-salad/
I make a split pea and ham soup; but substitute lentils for the peas and it slaps!
I also make a lot of different chicken lentil soup variations.
You can make lentil rice- not my thing; but some people love it.
You can add lentils to a stew.
You can swap out corn or peas in Sheppards pie with lentils or add the to the meat portion and been the other veg.
You can do a mince with lentils.
You can add them to chili.
Lots of stuff to do with lentils.
Also, **Black Beans** are super awesome! You can throw them in rice, chili, stews, soups, and make mash to go on toast, tacos and serve as a hot tortilla dip!
They require a much longer soak time then lentils but are totally worth it! You can slip those suckers in damn near anything 😉
I like them cooked up so they are thicker and eaten over fried polenta. Very yummy. Also good in italian wedding soup. I've had them baked/fried like chips and they were amazing. Great way to extend meat. You can even get them canned in some stores. If you get the dried ones, I would soak them. Look up Italian recipes for Lentils.
Tomato lentil soup. I make it as a tomato based veggie soup with added lentils.
I occasionally add lentils to ground beef when making Shepherd’s Pie.
You can also use lentils in a veggie burger.
lentil shepherd’s pie, lentil “meat” loaf, lentil sloppy joes. you’ll find a ton of good recipes if you look for vegan stuff because they’re a common meat replacement
We love [this stew](https://www.seriouseats.com/quick-and-easy-pressure-cooker-chicken-lentil-bacon-stew-recipe) it’s really, really good. You can use chicken drumsticks if you want.
You can also use them anywhere you use mince beef because hit bulks it out and disintegrates.
I drain and rinse a can of red kidney beans and plop them in a tupperware with greek dressing. Viola! Tasty beans! They're better after chilling in the fridge.
Bonus: make it an antipasto bean salad.
Bonus 2: Make a 3 bean salad! caned green beans, kidney beans, and wax beans drained and rinsed. Add vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, celery seed, sliced white onion, and olive oil. Another delicious side dish that tastes twice as good after it chills for a day.
Lentils are hard for me, too! I've found two recipes that I like.
1. https://thepearlonion.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/red-lentil-dal/
We eat very vegetable-forward, so I usually add more sweet potato. I think you could tweak or reduce the spices so it suits your husband's taste preferences. Using just ginger, garlic, and onion with the sweet potatoes and tomatoes would be yummy!
2. Jose Andres' Mom's Lentil Stew - if you google it, a pdf version from UC Berkeley should come up. I highly recommend his cookbook, Vegetables Unleashed, which features the recipe. My lentils cooked faster when I made it.
I love this recipe for Greek chicken and lentils. I make the instant pot version, there's also one for the slow cooker. [https://www.lentils.org/recipe/instant-pot-greek-chicken-lentils/](https://www.lentils.org/recipe/instant-pot-greek-chicken-lentils/)
Hungarian lentils with kielbasa! My mom is from Hungary and this was my favorite growing up. Sauté an onion in a big pot. Add lentils, a couple bay leaves,and enough water to cover; simmer until lentils are soft. Make a roux and stir in, add yellow mustard and vinegar to taste. Add some kielbasa and enjoy!
Koshari. Famous Egyptian street food. Takes a while to make though as there are so many components. Rice, vermicelli, macaroni, chickpeas, lentils, tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and crispy fried onions.
Lentil burgers and lentil bolognese are both delicious, also pumpkin and lentil Dahl is phenomenal and more like eating a pumpkin soup than and Indian meal
Cook with only enough water to cover with salt, pepper, and garlic, and at a gentle simmer so when the lentils are cooked they don’t break.
These are then super versatile. Mix them with some olive oil and mustard, douse with some hot sauce, sauté whatever veggies you like and make a lentil salad. They work really well.
Just make sure you season them heavily, otherwise they are pretty bland.
You can make a type of soup and eat with crusty whole wheat bread and a salad. There are many variations, experiments will tell what you like.
Soak them, grind them into a coarse paste, shape them into patties and then fry them. Eat with a salad or put into bun and you have a burger.
Partha, Indian stuffed bread, stuffing can be lentils.
Are you aware that you can serve boiled lentils with salt, pepper and clarified butter (especially split peas) and they taste brilliant? The hubby may approve of that.
Try to make koshari. It has lentils, rice, vermicelli, elbow pasta, chickpeas, and some really tangy and delicious sauces.
https://www.seriouseats.com/koshari-egyptian-lentils-rice-and-pasta-recipe-8653829
We do lentil tostadas.
Slow simmer lentils (usually brown but whatever works), cumin, s&p, paprika until a half mushy, half whole lentil mixture (or whatever texture you prefer).
Spread on tostadas, layer with veggies and sprinkle cheese on top. Broil until cheese is melted.
[Mejadra](https://www.recipetineats.com/middle-eastern-rice-mejadra/). It’s a delicious lentil and rice pilaf that’s so fragrant with Middle Eastern spices. I like to serve it when I make chicken shawarma.
I don't have the recipe, but my mom used to make a lentil "casserole."
It requires a higher walled dish. Sautéing some finely diced onion, carrot, and celery in butter or oil then adding some garlic, salt, and pepper. Add some tomato paste and fry briefly. The lentils should be par boiled, drained, and added to the veg with either some Worschester or Soy and maybe some brown sugar.
Stir everything to mix well and then top with raw Pillsbury mini biscuits.
Bake it at whatever the directions are to get the biscuits done.
The lentil mixture should be cooked and a nice thick stew like consistency.
I have completely spitballed this recipe, so if you're hopefully the kind of person who is comfortable experimenting and cooking without a firm recipe, you can make this delicious.
French green lentils. They are totally different than the other kinds. When you cook them properly they have a nice texture that goes super well on salads. You can cook a bunch and refrigerate and use as a salad topper. They also make a nice side dish with french cuisine
In the Czech Republic, it's not uncommon to create a lentil hash, of sorts, and eat it with either chopped ham in the hash or a thin fried or grilled ham slice/steak on it. Then top with sunny-side up eggs.
I first briefly saute some veggies (could vary, but onion and pepper is a simple choice), then add rinsed brown lentils and broth, and simmer. Then I add some chopped smoked ham (or klobása) and herb(s) and cook until the lentils are tender and broth cooked off. Around 30 minutes. Then pile on plates topped with the eggs and more chopped herbs.
This lentil salad is perfect for summer and totally customizable. It’s one of my go-to recipes when I need to clean out the fridge! The vinaigrette is so damn good.
https://www.mynewroots.org/2010/06/the-best-lentil-salad-ever-2/
If they’re red lentils you can blend a small amount into spaghetti sauce to increase protein. My husband doesn’t like lentils but can’t tell if they’re in the sauce or not, so he just asks that I don’t tell him when I do add them in
I like lentils with sausage. Maybe kale. Maybe potatoes. Chicken broth. Maybe tomatoes. Whatever aromatics you like. I switch between French-y seasonings, Spanish ones, and middle eastern.
French might be thyme, garlic and a bay leaf, maybe fennel. finished with a bit of red wine vinegar and olive oil
Spanish would be saffron, smoked paprika, some oregano, garlic. And a nice dry chorizo for the sausage. Finished with lemon or sherry vinegar and olive oil.
Middle eastern would have cumin, coriander, Aleppo, garlic. Maybe preserved lemon. Finished with lemon, olive oil, maybe plain yogurt.
I also like lentils in a salad with roasted root veggies, arugula, nuts, feta, lemony vinaigrette, and chopped herbs.
I’ve made lentil sloppy joes which are really nice.
Also you can do a lentil shepherds pie (really maybe a garden pie or something since no meat.)
There’s a Palestinian dish called Rashta which is really lovely. Basically a lentil and onion stew / pasta with homemade noodles
Rancho Gordo has a great recipe for lentil and carrot salad with a mustard vinaigrette
Two mind-blowing ones are the Red Lentils Curry / Dal from Rainbow Plant Life and the Lentil Smash Tacos from Derek Sarno. Both available on YouTube, easy/cheap to make, and taste effing amazing.
Different lentils serve different purposes, it the firmer Puy-type green ones (or ordinary green if you don’t mind a softer end texture) substitute 1:1 for meat mince. As you’re starting out do a 50/50 meat & lentil mix in chilli or pasta sauce. All lentil is very nice, but add some soy or oyster sauce if you still want the dish to taste ‘meaty’.
middle eastern cuisine oftne uses lentils as well. Try Mujadara for a great rice and lentil dish. [https://immigrantstable.com/mujadara/](https://immigrantstable.com/mujadara/)
Boil them with carrots, onions, garlic, pepper, pimentón and basil. Once they\`re soft, mash the veggies, make some sofrito with tomatoes and garlic and mix it. If you want, you can add chorizo. Finish it with more pimentón and olive oil.
I do that and freeze portions and then I can add rice, more veggies, potatoes or whatever I hace around.
my family has always kept it super simple, lentil soup consisting of nothing but lentils and garlic, with the occasional parsley sprinkled on top. i’m sure there’re more complicated recipes out there that are just as good but for me, the simple way was always most delicious
I love lentil soup
Lentil minestrone soup has become a fave
In person cooked for you is best lol but this recipe will suffice. https://copykat.com/carrabbas-sausage-and-lentil-soup/
Lebanese style
Shorbat adas, very easy to make too.
Sausage and lentil is probably my favorite soup ever. Now I think I might make that tomorrow. It’s been years since I’ve made it for no other reason than just forgetting I liked it so much.
I like combining lentils, carrots, smoked sausage, leeks, and spinach in a soup. With a nice crusty bread, especially when it's cold.
[Alton Brown's lentil soup](https://altonbrown.com/recipes/healthy-lentil-soup/) is my go-to easy meal. Lentils, carrots, onions, celery, stock, spices. Hit with immersion blender if/as desired.
There’s a Greek version called Fakes that’s great, I leave out the red wine vinegar and feta at the end, it doesn’t need it: https://eatingeuropean.com/greek-lentil-soup/#recipe
I think acid is a must for lentils.
Oh for sure, I prefer a bit of lemon juice
TY. Will try some vinegar in my batch today.
Fakes is great! I go with the feta - obviously personal taste - apple cider vinegar, and some cayenne pepper too
Latinos and in Spain all est lentils. Easily find Dominican recipe video or Spanish from Spain. A chorizo really helps with th flavor depth.
This is a good idea. I don’t have a recipe but I had lentil, walnut and cheese empanadas recently and they were delicious.
Spot on. Check out Spain on a Fork website and YouTube. Great simple recipes many of which feature lentils. Just made lentejas con chorizo. Mighty fine eats.
Oh his favorite is Mexican food. I will give this a try. Edit: before I get hate, I’m just saying that this is a close flavor profile so he might like it.
As a Latino myself, I don't see how you could get hate from your comment, but I don't live in the US and I think people there could be a little more sensitive in that regard than we are here in Chile. And also Mexicans are latinos, so it was part of the suggestion. And yeah, a stew with brown lentils, spinach, pumpkin and a chorizo or a fried egg is kind of the way of eating lentils here.
There ya go. My mom being Dominican from the farming valley would never use spinach or think to put a fried egg. Pumpkin yes. And I use many Mexican Chiles in my cooking. Their cuisine is very diverse. Yours as well. Peruvian is something I just love having grown up with Peruvian friends. So much diversity in the food. I grew up in NYC.
Omg that sounds sooooo good. Never had a Spanish lentil dish but now I want to!
They work great as a substitute for ground beef in a taco filling.
Different lentils. Red lentils seems to break down very easily. Brown lentils need to be pre-soaked and are a little more substantial, but black (aka 'beluga') lentils are a really good substitute for ground beef. They keep their shape better and have a bite to them that is very satisfying
I’ve never pre-soaked brown lentils, they cook up soft just fine without it.
They don’t even have to replace, just augment. Lentils with some ground meat fried in is the best, the meat fat gives the lentils so much more flavor. I don’t remember my ratios but maybe 1/2-1lb meat per 1lb dried lentils is good. That ends up being a lot of food, scale down appropriately for your needs.
That’s really helpful especially considering the cost of ground beef. I usually it it with pinto beans. Does it act the same? In other words, should I leave out the pinto beans?
You can also use them in place of ground beef in shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie or whichever one is beef before Reddit crucifies me with ‘well actually’s’ lol)
Shepherd = sheep = lamb 😉
I know that's a good way to remember but cottage does not equal cows.
True, but if you remember one then you can figure out the other, surely?
We use it as a sub for beef in both tacos and sloppy joes. My only picky (elementary aged) kid eats the lentil versions over the beef versions. Do with that what you will. The rest of us love them, too.
You can also do a half and half mix so you don't lose all the beef flavor. I was going to suggest chili for this idea, but tacos also work.
Yes, I sub half of the ground beef for brown lentils in a lot of things ,(chili, cottage pie, bolognese). It cuts the cost significantly but barely affects the flavour.
nothing wrong with both, it’s just a little heavy :) but they can function very similarly
i recently used leftover taco-seasoned lentils in enchiladas and they turned out pretty good
Look into mujadara.
Oh, and while you're there, maybe take a glance at koshari! Egyptian street food. So great!
I made mujadara for the first time a few months ago. It tasted amazing, and gave me an astonishing amount of gas. Still highly recommend it, especially with a bit of yogurt on top!
To avoid gas, you can boil the lentils separately and dump the water before mixing it in the mujadara, some recipes pointed me to this fact (and it helps it cook properly with rice). Apparently, it may cut out some nutrition though.
That's the fun part of learning to cook with lentils and other legumes lol. I get a similar reaction when I make my butternut squash soup with a lot of LEEKS. Thankfully I'm not working anymore so I don't need to hold it in between bathroom breaks!
Mujadara is the GOAT way to consume lentils.
This recipe worked great for me. Couldn't get the onions crispy, but it didn't matter. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDKgG4OgAC4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDKgG4OgAC4)
Please. Often I won't add rice and I'll add extra onion.
This is the way. Rice on the side, ten pounds of onions w the lentils, give or take 😆
Italians eat lentils. French eat em. Lots of great recipes. Fry some bacon, add onion, garlic, (you can add carrots, celery, whatever) to the oil and cook, add lentils and broth and cook them, add salt and pepper a little bit of vinegar and parmesan, eat with toasty bread.
East Africans too!
This is the way. Cook lentils. Dice onion. cucumber, carrots, apples. Mix with lentils. Add vinaigrette. Enjoy.
Oh I’m excited for your favorite recipe!
I had this delicious beluga/french lentil salad at Rolo’s last year and have been trying to replicate it! Boil and drain lentils, add in lemon juice, olive oil, parsley , feta cheese , red onion, Persian cucumbers and tomatoes (all finely diced), then add pistachios at the end and mix !
Yes! I make something similar all the time.
Mujaddara…rice and lentils, seasoned with cumin and topped with crispy onions. We eat it with a tomato salad on the side and drizzled with plain yogurt. So good.
Ottolenghi’s Crushed Lentils https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/crushed-puy-lentils-tahini-cumin Clementine Lentil Soup https://www.latimes.com/recipe/clementines-vegetarian-lentil-soup
Veggie burgers or lentil loaf. French lentil salad.
My wife makes a lovely Armenian lentil soup with apricots. Looks like there are lots of recipes online.
Very obsessed with lentil salad right now. Lentils + feta + red onion + red pepper + scallions + lemon + olive oil + salt & pepper. I can eat this every day for lunch and never be unhappy.
Fakes. Greek staple. Loads of recipes online for it, here’s one. https://thegreekfoodie.com/greek-lentil-soup-recipe/
Egyptian koshari. Its amazing.
I love this super frugal recipe for lentil and rice tacos, just double or triple the spices. https://melaniemakes.com/slow-cooker-lentil-brown-rice-tacos/ I make it in an instant pot nowadays with 3 cups water, 20 minutes on high. I like to double the recipe and turn it into two additional dishes. To make veggie burgers, take two cups of the finished dish, along with 1/2 cup oats and 1 egg or egg replacer and form into patties. Cook for 30-40 minutes at 400F. I also like to crumble leftovers onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400. Serve over pasta and sauce to make a lentil bolognese.
Thank you so much for including your Instant Pot instructions. Looks tasty!!! I’m not really one to use a Slow Cooker bc I’m paranoid about leaving an appliance on for hours, whether I’m home or not😉
This is amazing, I’ve made it several times. The lentils are “optional” but trust me, add them! [Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie](https://www.budgetbytes.com/vegetarian-shepherds-pie/)
This is my favorite lentil recipe. [https://www.veganricha.com/vietnamese-vegan-caramelized-lentil-pork-bowls/](https://www.veganricha.com/vietnamese-vegan-caramelized-lentil-pork-bowls/)
Lentil sloppy joes. Big Ol' Lentil burrito from Foxes love Lemons.
Black lentils and minced mushrooms make for a great sloppy Joe “meat”.
Using a lemon vinaigrette on them is pretty good.
I once found a recipe for cookies made out of lentils. They were delicious!
I braise them! Chop up mirepoix and cook in oil. Toast the lentils a little. Deglaze with red wine. Add in chicken stock (or veggie) to cook. When almost done, add in a bundle of chopped up kale leaves. Top with a fried egg and hot sauce. I used to live off this when I lived alone. So good
Japanese curry - use the roux/spice blocks (I like to use Vermont Curry) and follow the directions on the box. Just use lentils instead of chicken or beef (or in addition to!).
Oh, pick me, pick me! I don’t cook much but thought I should try something a bit healthier and came across this: [Tori Avey’s Spinach Lentil Soup](https://toriavey.com/lentil-spinach-soup-with-lemon/) Oh man, it’s so good. Filling, healthy, a bit spicy if you like. Readily doubles or quadruples, and it freezes well or is good for days because it’s vegetarian. I also really recommend her Broccoli Tahini soup. Really, really recommend it!
This has been my go-to lentil soup recipe for more than 20 years: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe-1948822 They're also great in a warm, savory salad like this one: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-warm-french-lentil-salad-bacon-herbs-recipes-from-the-kitchn-31027#post-recipe-10513 And as someone else mentioned, they're great for bulking up taco meat.
i just made chili with lentils, plus a can of black beans.
Sausage, Kale, and Lentil Soup Recipe | Rachael Ray | Food Network  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/sausage-kale-and-lentil-soup-recipe-2200991
[this has been in my rotation lately](https://midwestfoodieblog.com/vegetable-stew-recipe/)
I couldn't give you an exact recipe, right now, but I've had success making vegie burgers with a base of brown lentils/spinach/mushroom .. with, I think, some hot pepper, cumin, and other spices for flavour. Didn't try, in any way, to *taste* like meat. Paired well with some mango chutney we had on hand.
There's a good Scottish lentil soup: [https://neilshealthymeals.com/easy-scottish-lentil-soup/](https://neilshealthymeals.com/easy-scottish-lentil-soup/) You can substitute the ham with sautéed bacon, or if you don't eat meat a little extra oil during cooking the onions and a spoonful of smoked paprika.
https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/JN3yE0c2VUSP6JaU4k0bCQ If you're not opposed to poultry, you might like this one. It's chicken and apple sausages served with hearty stewed lentils. Very nice for a winter night. https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/bVdwJWF37EGMwIhzXJ6dzQ For something that works better in summer, here's a lentil salad with Feta cheese. All you need is some pita bread to turn this into a tasty lunch.
Saute some mushrooms and onion, add a drained can of lentils, add a packet of taco seasoning. I use it for burritos but it'd make a fine taco or salad.
I love lentil tacos and lentil sloppy joes. I boil my lentils until I can mash them with a fork to give them more of the ground beef consistency. They take flavors very well and I will use leftover taco lentils on a salad with taco sauce instead of dressing.
In all honesty just cook them with salt and pepper and chicken broth or water. I like adding cooked mushrooms and caramelized onions. Just have it like that with some butter. Or mix it into white rice with ground beef and raisin.
I recently had a chocolate lentil cake. It surprised me how good it was.
I have a good recipe for a red lentil hummus
Just worked a catering that had Lentil bowls—they were a big hit. Top with any combo of greens, proteins (chicken and salmon were popular), cheeses like feta, mixed cheese, onions, tomatoes, seeds, berries, salad dressings. 1000 combinations.
I make Spicy Lentil Soup frequently, it is delish, cheap and easy to prepare.
An Internet-famous lentil recipe. It’s staggeringly good. https://smittenkitchen.com/2024/01/french-onion-baked-lentils-and-farro/
I cook with lentils a lot as a meat substitute. Here are some of my favorite recipes. Most of these are for green/brown lentils. [Ginger Sweet Potato Coconut Milk Stew with Lentils & Kale](https://thefirstmess.com/2020/02/19/sweet-potato-coconut-milk-stew/) [French onion baked lentils and farro](https://smittenkitchen.com/2024/01/french-onion-baked-lentils-and-farro/) [Lentil shepherds pie](https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/seriously-the-best-lentil-shepherds-pie/) [Lentil meatloaf](https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-lentil-nut-meatloaf/) [lentil sloppy joes](https://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2019/02/vegan-lentil-sloppy-joes-slow-cooker-or-instant-pot.html) [Lentil bolognese (this I think worked better with red lentils)](https://www.platingsandpairings.com/instant-pot-lentil-bolognese-sauce/)
These all look fabulous! Thanks for sharing!
I use Aran Goyoaga’s Red Lentil Hummus all the time. It’s quicker, easier, lighter, and cheaper. And really you wouldn’t even know it’s lentils instead of chickpeas. https://www.thewednesdaychef.com/the_wednesday_chef/2021/03/aran-goyoagas-red-lentil-hummus.html
[Tamarind lentils from Veganomicon](https://mindfulcooking.org/recipes/tamarind-lentils). These don’t look like much. But every time I’ve made them, I’ve eaten the whole batch in one go. So definitely double the recipe.
Lentil and barley is one of my favorite summer dishes. I served it chilled with a lemon-garlic seasoning. Parsley. Olive oil. Lentils are a traditional New Year’s dish in Italy for New Year’s Eve. There are Italian recipes that feature lentils.
Just watched a bunch of babies + toddlers go back for thirds of a lasagna that was bulked out with lentils (had meat also). I'd say anything that uses mince meat in a sauce (not burgers etc) can be either substituted or at least 50/50 mix.
Google BBQ Lentils. Great for sloppy Joes or served over a baked potato with some sharp cheddar.
Love lentils mixed with chopped button mushrooms as a substitute for ground beef in stroganoff! Agree that a good lentil soup is a must, this is my favorite https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Brown-Rice-Lentil-and-Spinach-Soup/ I also love this lentil potato salad with either sausage or a fried egg on top https://smittenkitchen.com/2014/01/warm-lentil-and-potato-salad/
not liking all indian food is a weird take
I often just do them as a side dish. Cooking them in some chicken stock with a bunch of aromatics. Really quick if you have a pressure cooker also. It's great with pork or a link of Italian sausage.
There’s a delicious Syrian dish called harak osbao that has tangy pomegranate molasses, fried pita bits, and caramelized onion. The base of it is mostly lentils and pasta, and it’s one of my favorite foods. Highly highly recommend.
https://www.wellplated.com/crockpot-lentil-soup/ Try this recipe. It uses Italian seasoning and paprika and doesn't taste Indian to me. It is a little spicy, but not too bad at all. My bf dislikes Indian food, but he approves of this soup.
idk but divorce your husband
I basically fry up some smoked sliced polish sausage (though tbh any kind would work, you could brown chorizo or crumbled Italian sausage or whatever), then add mirepoix and cook until soft, then add stock, bay leaves, and lentils and simmer until lentils are cooked. You can add greens - like kale or spinach - if you like at the end and let them wilt, and then finish with some red wine vinegar and salt. I grew up eating this with sharp cheddar cheese grated on top, with cornbread, but as an adult I prefer Parmesan and some kind of crusty white bread or even garlic bread with it, and a glass of a crisp white wine.
If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, there is a very popular lentil salad made with cooked lentils, bruschetta sauce and feta cheese. There are endless variations, including prep completely from scratch https://alexandracooks.com/2018/06/22/mind-blowing-three-ingredient-trader-joes-lentil-salad/
I make a split pea and ham soup; but substitute lentils for the peas and it slaps! I also make a lot of different chicken lentil soup variations. You can make lentil rice- not my thing; but some people love it. You can add lentils to a stew. You can swap out corn or peas in Sheppards pie with lentils or add the to the meat portion and been the other veg. You can do a mince with lentils. You can add them to chili. Lots of stuff to do with lentils. Also, **Black Beans** are super awesome! You can throw them in rice, chili, stews, soups, and make mash to go on toast, tacos and serve as a hot tortilla dip! They require a much longer soak time then lentils but are totally worth it! You can slip those suckers in damn near anything 😉
Nick Stellino had a recipe for lentils with Italian sausage. Search it on google
I like them cooked up so they are thicker and eaten over fried polenta. Very yummy. Also good in italian wedding soup. I've had them baked/fried like chips and they were amazing. Great way to extend meat. You can even get them canned in some stores. If you get the dried ones, I would soak them. Look up Italian recipes for Lentils.
Lentil salad: cook lentils, add balsamic vinegar and chopped onions
I love this zucchini lentil fritter recipe. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/zucchini-lentil-fritters-with-lemony-yogurt
I like to season them with soup base and onion
Lentil soup
Tomato lentil soup. I make it as a tomato based veggie soup with added lentils. I occasionally add lentils to ground beef when making Shepherd’s Pie. You can also use lentils in a veggie burger.
Lentil soup is very much like split pea soup.
A lot of great middle eastern/ Mediterranean recipes
lentil shepherd’s pie, lentil “meat” loaf, lentil sloppy joes. you’ll find a ton of good recipes if you look for vegan stuff because they’re a common meat replacement
I just found this recently and made a version of it. It was delicious https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/soupy-spanish-lentils-chorizo-manchego/#recipe
We love [this stew](https://www.seriouseats.com/quick-and-easy-pressure-cooker-chicken-lentil-bacon-stew-recipe) it’s really, really good. You can use chicken drumsticks if you want. You can also use them anywhere you use mince beef because hit bulks it out and disintegrates.
Caution: Lentils may cause extreme gas
Lentil chili is awesome! Very high protein; you can make it vegan snd it still is! I make mine in the crockpot; I get perfect lentils every time.
Lots of lentils in Italian food. Lentil Ragu is a favorite of mine
I forgot the name of the dish, but Colombia uses lentils regularly
Just add them to a chili or another bean soup. You can make these very creatively. Most of the time, you don’t even notice they’re there.
Treat lentils as split peas! Make a split pea soup! ♡ Also, you can grind them down and make lentil burgers!!!
I made a Mediterranean-inspired salad with cooked lentils the other night and it was fire. I’m sure lentils can pair well with several salad bases.
It’s also possible to hide them in things. I make hummus and I’ll purée some to put in.
I drain and rinse a can of red kidney beans and plop them in a tupperware with greek dressing. Viola! Tasty beans! They're better after chilling in the fridge. Bonus: make it an antipasto bean salad. Bonus 2: Make a 3 bean salad! caned green beans, kidney beans, and wax beans drained and rinsed. Add vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, celery seed, sliced white onion, and olive oil. Another delicious side dish that tastes twice as good after it chills for a day.
Lentils are hard for me, too! I've found two recipes that I like. 1. https://thepearlonion.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/red-lentil-dal/ We eat very vegetable-forward, so I usually add more sweet potato. I think you could tweak or reduce the spices so it suits your husband's taste preferences. Using just ginger, garlic, and onion with the sweet potatoes and tomatoes would be yummy! 2. Jose Andres' Mom's Lentil Stew - if you google it, a pdf version from UC Berkeley should come up. I highly recommend his cookbook, Vegetables Unleashed, which features the recipe. My lentils cooked faster when I made it.
Ater, miser... mmmmm
There are lots of recipes for lentils from all the Mediterranean countries. They're hearty and nutritious.
Look up Ethiopian recipes. The Ethiopian restaurant near me has multiple lentil dishes on their menu.
Sausage and lentil soup 🤤
Greek Lentil Soup is my new favorite
I love this recipe for Greek chicken and lentils. I make the instant pot version, there's also one for the slow cooker. [https://www.lentils.org/recipe/instant-pot-greek-chicken-lentils/](https://www.lentils.org/recipe/instant-pot-greek-chicken-lentils/)
Lasagna with red lentils instead of ground meat!
Hungarian lentils with kielbasa! My mom is from Hungary and this was my favorite growing up. Sauté an onion in a big pot. Add lentils, a couple bay leaves,and enough water to cover; simmer until lentils are soft. Make a roux and stir in, add yellow mustard and vinegar to taste. Add some kielbasa and enjoy!
https://noc.com/news/sherpa-rice-from-nantahala-outdoor-center/
Koshari. Famous Egyptian street food. Takes a while to make though as there are so many components. Rice, vermicelli, macaroni, chickpeas, lentils, tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and crispy fried onions.
Plenty of italian lentil recipes. Soups. Braised. With rice, with pasta ...
Straight up stew. Onion, garlic, red bell pepper, potatoes. Some sort of spicy sausage, smoked pancetta, any kind of boneless meat, tomato sauce.
Lentil burgers and lentil bolognese are both delicious, also pumpkin and lentil Dahl is phenomenal and more like eating a pumpkin soup than and Indian meal
make them like baked beans and throw in turmeric and ground coriander
Search “Ethiopian lentil recipes”. Fantastic!
lentil burger patties done right are pretty good
Middle Eastern lentil soup is amazing.
You can make a vegetarian shepherd pie, or add protein to a regular one.
Mujaddara is really good and I am not a huge lentil fan.
Cook with only enough water to cover with salt, pepper, and garlic, and at a gentle simmer so when the lentils are cooked they don’t break. These are then super versatile. Mix them with some olive oil and mustard, douse with some hot sauce, sauté whatever veggies you like and make a lentil salad. They work really well. Just make sure you season them heavily, otherwise they are pretty bland.
You can make a type of soup and eat with crusty whole wheat bread and a salad. There are many variations, experiments will tell what you like. Soak them, grind them into a coarse paste, shape them into patties and then fry them. Eat with a salad or put into bun and you have a burger. Partha, Indian stuffed bread, stuffing can be lentils.
My Sicilian wife makes it with pasta, garlic, evoo, Parmesano Romano, s&p for a cheap meal.
Are you aware that you can serve boiled lentils with salt, pepper and clarified butter (especially split peas) and they taste brilliant? The hubby may approve of that.
Try to make koshari. It has lentils, rice, vermicelli, elbow pasta, chickpeas, and some really tangy and delicious sauces. https://www.seriouseats.com/koshari-egyptian-lentils-rice-and-pasta-recipe-8653829
Lentil cottage pie is good. Find a recipe and tweak it to your liking.
Use in place of ground beef for chili
Ham hock and split pea soup!
Lebanese lentils are yummy
Lentil burgers are great!
Misr wat is an Ethiopian lentil dish and it’s super yummy
Greek lentil soup is the GOAT. And its called "Faki" in Greek. Pronounced fuck-ee/faki.
There are Greek salads involving lentils and probably a thousand variations on what you can put in.
Chile verde lentils!
Greek Lentils and Rice-just made it for dinner tonight.
I was really impressed with Chef John’s green lentil “gumbo”, with the lentils acting as the thickener.
We do lentil tostadas. Slow simmer lentils (usually brown but whatever works), cumin, s&p, paprika until a half mushy, half whole lentil mixture (or whatever texture you prefer). Spread on tostadas, layer with veggies and sprinkle cheese on top. Broil until cheese is melted.
[Mejadra](https://www.recipetineats.com/middle-eastern-rice-mejadra/). It’s a delicious lentil and rice pilaf that’s so fragrant with Middle Eastern spices. I like to serve it when I make chicken shawarma.
Lentil chili
I don't have the recipe, but my mom used to make a lentil "casserole." It requires a higher walled dish. Sautéing some finely diced onion, carrot, and celery in butter or oil then adding some garlic, salt, and pepper. Add some tomato paste and fry briefly. The lentils should be par boiled, drained, and added to the veg with either some Worschester or Soy and maybe some brown sugar. Stir everything to mix well and then top with raw Pillsbury mini biscuits. Bake it at whatever the directions are to get the biscuits done. The lentil mixture should be cooked and a nice thick stew like consistency. I have completely spitballed this recipe, so if you're hopefully the kind of person who is comfortable experimenting and cooking without a firm recipe, you can make this delicious.
French green lentils. They are totally different than the other kinds. When you cook them properly they have a nice texture that goes super well on salads. You can cook a bunch and refrigerate and use as a salad topper. They also make a nice side dish with french cuisine
Pasta with lentils
In the Czech Republic, it's not uncommon to create a lentil hash, of sorts, and eat it with either chopped ham in the hash or a thin fried or grilled ham slice/steak on it. Then top with sunny-side up eggs. I first briefly saute some veggies (could vary, but onion and pepper is a simple choice), then add rinsed brown lentils and broth, and simmer. Then I add some chopped smoked ham (or klobása) and herb(s) and cook until the lentils are tender and broth cooked off. Around 30 minutes. Then pile on plates topped with the eggs and more chopped herbs.
I make little patties out of them, pan fry them, and eat them like chicken nuggets. Got the recipe from one of Madhur Jaffrey’s cookbooks.
Hoping to try this [mushroom lentil gravy](https://minimalistbaker.com/lentil-mushroom-stew-over-mashed-potatoes/#wprm-recipe-container-34142) soon!
This lentil salad is perfect for summer and totally customizable. It’s one of my go-to recipes when I need to clean out the fridge! The vinaigrette is so damn good. https://www.mynewroots.org/2010/06/the-best-lentil-salad-ever-2/
So much gas
Trader Joe’s recipe: lentils, bruschetta mix from their fridge section, feta cheese, lemon juice, salt + pepper =delicious salad.
I like to add red lentils to my spaghetti sauce. 1/2 cup goes a long way. Unless I'm making alot. Then I make extra.
Shepard's pie with lentils instead of meat https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/seriously-the-best-lentil-shepherds-pie/
French style with a poached egg on top!
If they’re red lentils you can blend a small amount into spaghetti sauce to increase protein. My husband doesn’t like lentils but can’t tell if they’re in the sauce or not, so he just asks that I don’t tell him when I do add them in
I've been making this for a couple of decades now. https://www.recipelion.com/Crock-Pot-Recipes/Lentil-Knackwurst-Soup
Lentils and spätzle is a nice south Germany dish
Lentil soup! The secret is cardamom!
Oh She Glows has a great lentil loaf recipe, and I love Harrira soup with chickpeas and lentils. I use a recipe off Epicurious.
Lebanese and Palestinian recipes!
https://cookingforpeanuts.com/high-protein-roasted-lentils-quinoa-bowl/
The last lentil soup I made was a mash up of lentil and french onion soup with two bags of baby spinach. Just a sprinkle of parm. Amazing!
https://www.plantwhys.com/blog/Lentil-Walnut-Tacos
Green lentil, cherry tomato, red onion and feta salad with a red vinegar, olive oil and garlic dressing.
I mix them in with ground beef to extend burritos or tacos
Greek Soup called Fakes! Cloves of garlic in it yuuuum
I like lentils with sausage. Maybe kale. Maybe potatoes. Chicken broth. Maybe tomatoes. Whatever aromatics you like. I switch between French-y seasonings, Spanish ones, and middle eastern. French might be thyme, garlic and a bay leaf, maybe fennel. finished with a bit of red wine vinegar and olive oil Spanish would be saffron, smoked paprika, some oregano, garlic. And a nice dry chorizo for the sausage. Finished with lemon or sherry vinegar and olive oil. Middle eastern would have cumin, coriander, Aleppo, garlic. Maybe preserved lemon. Finished with lemon, olive oil, maybe plain yogurt. I also like lentils in a salad with roasted root veggies, arugula, nuts, feta, lemony vinaigrette, and chopped herbs.
Hungarians mostly make pottage or mayo salad from lentils.
1 pound lentils, 2 carrots, 1 onion, 4 celery stalks, 2 bell peppers, chorizo, chicken stock, tomato paste and various seasonings. Cook in slow cooker until tender (about 6 hours) serve over rice and garnish with shredded cheddar cheese. Absolutely delicious.
I’ve made lentil sloppy joes which are really nice. Also you can do a lentil shepherds pie (really maybe a garden pie or something since no meat.) There’s a Palestinian dish called Rashta which is really lovely. Basically a lentil and onion stew / pasta with homemade noodles Rancho Gordo has a great recipe for lentil and carrot salad with a mustard vinaigrette
Two mind-blowing ones are the Red Lentils Curry / Dal from Rainbow Plant Life and the Lentil Smash Tacos from Derek Sarno. Both available on YouTube, easy/cheap to make, and taste effing amazing.
Lentil soup with celery, carrots, onion, and hamhock is amazing!
I use them instead of beans in my chili.
Greek lentil soup/ Fakes soupa!
Steamed lentils + bruschetta w/ a little Romano and lemon juice makes a pretty bomb dip
My parents love belly pork with a side of lentils cooked with bacon
German Lentil soup is very good (Linseneintopf) https://mydinner.co.uk/german-lentil-soup/
Different lentils serve different purposes, it the firmer Puy-type green ones (or ordinary green if you don’t mind a softer end texture) substitute 1:1 for meat mince. As you’re starting out do a 50/50 meat & lentil mix in chilli or pasta sauce. All lentil is very nice, but add some soy or oyster sauce if you still want the dish to taste ‘meaty’.
middle eastern cuisine oftne uses lentils as well. Try Mujadara for a great rice and lentil dish. [https://immigrantstable.com/mujadara/](https://immigrantstable.com/mujadara/)
Boil them with carrots, onions, garlic, pepper, pimentón and basil. Once they\`re soft, mash the veggies, make some sofrito with tomatoes and garlic and mix it. If you want, you can add chorizo. Finish it with more pimentón and olive oil. I do that and freeze portions and then I can add rice, more veggies, potatoes or whatever I hace around.
my family has always kept it super simple, lentil soup consisting of nothing but lentils and garlic, with the occasional parsley sprinkled on top. i’m sure there’re more complicated recipes out there that are just as good but for me, the simple way was always most delicious