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How to Cook Lentils

black beluga lentils cooked in a pot.
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Learn how to cook lentils in this easy step-by-step guide! From stove top to Instant Pot you’ll learn how to pick the best lentils and the perfect method for cooking them.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup dry green, brown, red, black or French lentils, rinsed + drained
  • 2 cups water or stock
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Optional Flavor Boosters: Fresh herbs, dried bay leaf or sage, fresh onion, shallot or garlic

Instructions

On the Stove Top:

  1. Combine lentils, water/stock and any flavor booster to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium heat.
  2. Reduce heat to low and cover pot.
  3. For green, brown or red lentils – cook for 10-20 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed.
  4. For French lentils – cook for 20-30 minutes or until they have softened slightly and all liquid has been absorbed. OR if lentils are soft but there’s still some water simply strain them.
  5. For black beluga lentils – cook for 30-40 minutes or until they have softened slightly and all liquid has been absorbed. OR if lentils are soft but there’s still some water simply strain them.
  6. Remove any flavor boosters and stir in salt.

In the Instant Pot:

  1. Combine lentils, water/stock and any flavor boosters to a large Instant Pot and pressure cook to HIGH.
  2. For green, brown or red lentils – Cook for 5 minutes and then allow to natural steam release for 5 minutes before manually releasing remaining steam.
  3. For French lentils – Cook for 10 minutes and then allow to natural steam release for 10 minutes before manually releasing remaining steam. If there’s any remaining liquid simply strain it out.
  4. For black beluga lentils – Cook for 10 minutes and then allow to natural steam release for 15 minutes before manually releasing remaining steam. If there’s any remaining liquid simply strain it out.
  5. Remove any flavor boosters and stir in salt.

Notes

-Yields 2 1/2 cups of cooked lentils.

-Cooked lentils will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week or up to 6 months in the freezer.

Find it online: https://www.thehealthymaven.com/how-to-cook-lentils/