How to Cook Lentils
Ingredients
To Cook Lentils:
- 1 cup dry lentils
- 1 tsp pink sea salt
- 2 cups broth
- 1 cup water
To Add Flavor (optional):
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 large carrot
- 1 celery rib
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
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Place lentils in a large mixing bowl and fill up with enough water to fully cover them. Place saran wrap or any cover over bowl and let lentils soak overnight. The next morning, drain and rinse lentils thoroughly.
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If using (if not using skip to last step), thinly dice carrots and onion, slice celery, mince garlic, and chop parsley. Place a medium saucepan on stovetop and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Turn heat to medium-high brining oil to a heat.
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Start by tossing diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until it starts to soften and becomes translucent. Toss in carrots and celery and continue to sauté. Sprinkle in the following spices; salt, black pepper, ground turmeric, cumin, paprika, oregano and thyme. Stir making sure aromatics are well coated with spices. Pour in broth and water giving it a stir making sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot.
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Turn heat up to high and bring to a boil. Once everything is boiling, stir in lentils. Add bay leaf and allow lentils to boil for 8 minutes. Bring heat down to low, add in garlic and parsley, and give lentils a good stir. Cover sauce pan and allow to simmer for 10 minutes on low heat. Remove lentils from heat, give them a stir once again and leave them covered for another 10 minutes so that they can soak up some more of the liquid.
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Serve lentils immediately or allow them to completely cool-off uncovered. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
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If you are not adding any extra aromatics or spices and want to keep them simple, simply pour broth and water into sauce pan and add salt. Bring to a boil on high heat and add lentils that have been soaked overnight, drained and rinsed. Boil for 8 minutes on high heat. Bring heat down to low, cover lentils and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from stovetop, stir lentils and allow them to sit covered for 10 minutes. You can drain any excess liquid if you'd like.
Recipe Notes
Tips on How To Cook Lentils:
- Soak lentils overnight-This will help reduce the cooking time it takes to cook the lentils.
- Rinse the lentils to get rid of any excess dust, stones, and debris- Soaking lentils overnight and rinsing them will also make lentils easier to digest.
- If you're making these lentils to have as is- it is highly recommended to add all the spices and aromatics mentioned above to add more flavor to them.
- If you're cooking lentils to add to a recipe that calls for cooked lentils- just use the basic ingredients like broth, water and salt.
- Prefer lentils with less liquid?- after they are done simmering simply uncover them and turn heat back to high and allow them to simmer until more liquid has been soaked up.
- Making these lentils as meal prep and are refrigerating them or freezing?- You will want to leave most of the liquid in. More liquid will dry up as they sit in the fridge and it will help them stay fresh when freezing and thawing.
- If you are not adding any extra aromatics or spices and want to keep them simple- Simply pour broth and water into sauce pan and add salt. Bring to a boil on high heat and add lentils that have been soaked overnight, drained and rinsed. Boil for 8 minutes on high heat. Bring heat down to low, cover lentils and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from stovetop, stir lentils and allow them to sit covered for 10 minutes. You can drain any excess liquid if you'd like.