114 red lentil recipes

Lentils Ole is a Tex-Mex inspired vegan one-pot: brown lentils simmered with cumin, chili powder, garlic, and tomato sauce, then sweetened with molasses for a smoky, fiber-packed bowl over rice or with corn.

Red lentils with spinach simmered with onion, garlic, ginger, and chili powder until the lentils break down into a thick, creamy dal. Finished with a stir of yogurt. Vegan-adaptable and high in fiber.

Lentil pasta sauce: hearty meatless tomato sauce with lentils, oregano, and a kick of hot sauce, perfect for vegan or vegetarian pasta night. Protein-rich alternative to classic meat ragu.

Ethiopian red lentil stew (Kae Misr Wot) simmered with tomato paste and chow spice blend. A vegan, protein-rich puree traditionally served with injera bread.

False Fish is a clever vegetarian dish of rice and red lentils pressed overnight, sliced, breaded, and pan-fried golden to mimic crispy fish steaks. Serve with parsley sauce.

A delicious side dish that goes well with jerk chicken or curried beef.

Whole wheat spaghetti with red lentils, sauteed spinach, and toasted pine nuts. A protein-packed vegetarian pasta dinner with lemon brightness and a hint of nutmeg.

Lazy lentils baked low and slow with red lentils, cheddar cheese, onion, garlic, and mixed herbs. A hands-off vegetarian main dish with just 8 ingredients and minimal prep.

Lentil kufta, a Middle Eastern vegetarian patty made with red lentils and bulgur, seasoned with sauteed onions, scallions, and red pepper. No-fry vegan appetizer shaped into balls or one big mound.

Lemony lentil salad with feta, crisp cucumber, red bell pepper, and a generous handful of fresh dill. A no-cook, protein-packed vegetarian lunch that gets better the longer it sits.

Vegetarian lentil stew simmered with carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf, finished with red wine and plum tomatoes. A hearty, high-fiber one-pot meal with no added fat.

Lucknawi dal simmers pink lentils with turmeric and tamarind, then finishes with a sizzling tadka of cumin seeds, fried onion, garlic, ginger, and dried red chili. Sour, smoky, and brothy in the best Awadhi tradition.

Spicy Western slow-cooker beans combining pinto beans, red kidney beans, lentils, smoky bacon, and chili powder with tomatoes and cumin. Cowboy-style beans with a peppery kick.

Spaghetti with lentils in a slow-simmered tomato sauce with red wine, basil, oregano, and thyme. A hearty vegetarian pasta dinner with protein-rich lentils instead of meat.

Moroccan-spiced lentil soup combines brown lentils with caramelized onions, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, and red pepper flakes. A warming vegetarian-friendly soup with deep aromatic spice and almost no fat.

Misr allecha, an Ethiopian red lentil stew simmered with turmeric, garlic, and hot pepper into a thick, vibrant puree. A vegan, gluten-free side built for scooping with injera.