Adding Flavor To Lentils
But if you want to make your lentils more flavorful, youll need to add some more flavorings . Lentils are sponges, so they absorb the flavors of the ingredients in which theyre cooked.
I like to begin my lentils by sautéing some aromatics in oil, such as onion and garlic. And because I like things spicy, I often sauté some chili peppers too. If Im cooking Indian food, Ill also add in cumin seeds and ginger before adding the lentils. Or, if Im making Mexican-flavored lentils, I might sauté an onion, green pepper, and jalapeño pepper.
After you cook your aromatics, its time for more seasonings. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or you can add an array of your favorite spices, such as cumin, paprika, or turmeric. The exact spices will depend on the flavor profile/specific cuisine you are cooking. I also love adding fresh herbs to the cooking liquid for more depth of flavor. Sturdy herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, and bay leaves work excellently.
Finally, I like to cook the lentils in vegetable broth instead of water since it gives the lentils a little more richness and flavor.
Below you will find four incredibly easy recipes for Instant Pot lentils. And in case you are a fan of other legumes , here are more Instant Pot recipes featuring lentils and other legumes!
- Spiced Lentil, Kale and Sausage Soup
- Red Lentil Almond Curry
- Red Curry Rice Noodle Soup
- Lentil-Walnut Gyros with Vegan Tzatziki
- Lentil Shepherds Pie
- Khichdi / Kitchari
How Long Do I Have To Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot
- Soaked;green/brown/black lentils require a 1 to 1.25 ratio of lentils to liquid when cooking in the Instant Pot. Cook them at HIGH pressure and then wait for full natural pressure release.
- 2 minutes for salads
- 3 minutes for softer lentils
- 5 minutes for mushy lentils .
- They can be cooked up to 30 minutes without disintegrating.
How To Cook Red Lentils & Rice Together
One of the big advantages of the Instant Pot is the option to do Pot-in-Pot Cooking or PIP. This means being able to cook multiple things at a time, by also cooking in a small pot inside the main pot. To do pot-in-pot cooking, you need a;tall trivet;and;stainless steel containers;that you can use within the main pot.
After adding all the ingredients for the lentils. Place a trivet. Then a steel bowl with rice and water on the trivet.
The cooking time for white basmati rice is similar to the cooking time of Masoor Dal. You always want to match things that cook in approximately the same time when doing pot-in-pot cooking.
The cooking time for white basmati rice is similar to the cooking time of Masoor Dal. You always want to match things that cook in approximately the same time when doing pot-in-pot cooking.
Stir in the lime juice and garnish with cilantro.
The lentils are perfectly cooked and so creamy!
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Puy Or French Green Lentils:
These lentils are excellent for salads and as toppings. Because they hold their shape even after cooked, these are widely used in making hearty salads. Unlike green lentils, these have a very sweet, nutty and peppery flavor. Because they come from the French regions, these are commonly known as Le Puy. If you want nice and firm Puy lentils, cook them in instant pot for just 7 minutes.
Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup
Hey-hey, guys! Here it is, Instant Pot lentil soup with brown or green lentils, canned tomatoes and spinach. Then served with lots of fresh Parmesan cheese. Can you visualize this yum?
This pressure cooker lentil soup is a cross between my stovetop lentil spinach soup and slow cooker lentil soup. But even better no sauteing and ready in an hour-ish.
You couldnt ask for a more easy and healthy lentil soup recipe with prep time of 5 minutes. Make a huge pot and eat it all week. Considering I own an 8 quart monster, you better believe me when I say we will be eating soup all week haha.
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Should I Soak Lentils
No, you should not be soaking your lentils. While lentils are a part of the legume family, they are much smaller in size meaning they contain a much lower amount of lectin that allows them to surpass soaking and engage in the cooking process whenever ready.
This is, in fact, one of the great advantages of cooking lentils rather than beans. They do not require presoaking, and they cook much faster than beans.
How To Cook Lentils
There are different methods for cooking lentils and cooking times will vary depending on each variety. I will go through the most popular varieties and which methods work best for each type. You can find detailed information in the printable recipe card below.
Cooking Lentils On The Stove Top
Cooking Lentils In The Slow Cooker
Some type of lentils may take longer time to cook.
Cooking Instant Pot Lentils
The pressure cooker or Instant pot cannot be used to cook some types of lentils. Red, yellow and orange lentils turn to mush when cooked in the pressure cooker as they have a softer texture.
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How To Make A Freezer Meal
- Instant Pot: Add all ingredients in the order listed in the recipe minus water, spinach and garlic and freeze uncooked in a gallon size Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen with 10 or 14 cups of water/broth for 20 minutes, after do Quick Release.
- Slow cooker: Add all ingredients in the order listed in the recipe minus water, spinach and garlic and freeze uncooked in a gallon size Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen on Low for 10 hours or on High for 5 hours.
- After cooking: Add spinach and garlic. Stir and serve hot garnished with Parmesan cheese.
Check out my full list of 20 healthy freezer meals. Im obsessed!
By Step Instructions For Instant Pot Lentils
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Should I Soak Lentils Before Cooking
Many legumes, like dried raw beans, are typically soaked for several hours, even overnight, to neutralize lectins. However, lentils are low enough in PHA that they dont require soaking.
For this Instant Pot Lentils recipe, both soaked and unsoaked lentils will work. Youll just need to adjust the cooking times. Personally, I always soak my lentils. Ive found theyre much easier to digest this way. Plus, lentils soak quickly compared to most other legumes, only requiring 2-4 hours of soak time. If youre pressed for time, then you can quick soak your lentils with some boiling water for 20 minutes or so before rinsing and cooking.
Can You Cook Lentils With Salt
When cooking lentils in a recipe, I prefer to omit the salt until the lentils are 100% tender, as salt can sometimes interfere with the lentils softening. This is definitely the case when you cook lentils with soy sauce, so dont add soy sauce to a recipe until after the lentils are tender.
In my experience, this happens more often with pressure cooking than with stove top cooking, and it usually happens more often when an acidic ingredient is in the recipe, too, like tomatoes or lemon juice. So, keep that in mind when cooking with lentils, and add the salt at the end if you want to stay on the safe side.
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What Do You Eat Lentils With
Here are eight surprisingly fast lentil recipes to try now: Spiced Lentils with Mushrooms and Greens. Beet and Red Cabbage Salad with Lentils and Blue Cheese. Red Lentil & Chicken Curry. Tortilla Soup with Lentils. Spiced Red Lentils. Lentils with Smoked Sausage and Carrots. Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Lentils and Dates.
Can Sprouting Be Done Without A Cheesecloth
Yes, many people make sprouts without using a cheesecloth. I am sharing this method as I have found it to be work better and give more consistent results.
Follow the same process to soak and drain the lentils in a colander. You can keep a bowl below the colander to collect any dripping water. Place in a cool dry place. You will see sprouts in about 24 hours.
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How Do I Cook Lentils In A Pressure Cooker
Instructions Combine the lentils and water in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing. When the cooking cycle completes, immediately move the steam release valve to Venting to release the pressure right away. Stir the lentils and make sure they are tender to your liking.
Cooking Lentils: How To Make Lentils In An Instant Pot
Looking to add a little something extra to your vegan wrap, salad or perhaps as a side to your dinner? You can have a side of delicious lentils ready inside of your Instant Pot in as little as 10 minutes, if not less!
- Prepare. Wash and drain the lentils.
- Water to Lentil Ratio for the Instant pot. For every cup of dry lentils, add 1.5-2 cups of water. Any seasonings, aromatics, spices including salt can be added at this point.
- Cooking times. Use the chart below to determine how long to cook.
- Resting Times. At the end of the cooking time, allow the pot to rest undisturbed for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
This method is my go-to method since the Instant Pot basically does all the work for you and there is very little hands on after you add your ingredients in. Cooking lentils does not get much easier than that!
In the chart below, I’ve given you Stovetop timings as well just in case you prefer that method. It also lets you see how much time you might be saving by cooking Instant Pot lentils vs. stovetop lentils.
For making lentils on the Stovetop, use about 3 cups of water for each cup of dry lentils. You may also want to add some oil to the water to reduce foaming.
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How To Prepare Lentils
There are about a dozen varieties of lentils to choose from and each one of them works well for different recipes however, you can prepare all varieties the same way. Preparing lentils is easy and only requires two steps:
How To Make Green Lentils In The Instant Pot Step By Step
1 cup of green lentils 1.5 or 1.75 cups water.
Less water makes the lentils drier at the other end. Thats great if you want to have them in a salad, or if you want to sauté them, for example to use in tacos.
More water makes the lentils just a tiny bit more moist with a little bit of cooking water residue. I love to have that if Im adding the lentils to a sauce, soup or stew.
If youre not too bothered about moisture levels in your end result, Id recommend the higher amount of water to give yourself a buffer, because having too little water in a pressure cooker can lead to burn warnings. Ive not had this happen to me but if youre working with older dried lentils they may suck up more moisture and it would be a possibility.
You can cook lentils in as little as 8 minutes or as long as 10.
8 minutes gives you something more robust, more al dente. This is the best choice for salads, lentils that are going to be sautéed, or lentils that will be stored and then cooked a little more when theyre eventually used in a recipe.
10 minutes gives you softer lentils. This is the best choice for lentils that are headed for a soup or dal recipe, when youve seasoned the lentils and intend to serve them as a stand alone dish straight from the instant pot, or if your lentils are quite old older lentils dont cook as quickly.
If youre indecisive, try 9 minutes. Cant go too too wrong there.
Set the Instant Pot:
Release the Pressure:
How to Use Your Lentils:
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Storage Freezing And Reheating Instructions
Homemade lentils are perfect for meal-prepping, freezing, and making ahead.
- Store cooked lentils in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze cooked and cooled lentils in a freezer-safe, airtight container or plastic bag, and store in your freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat thawed or refrigerated lentils in the microwave for 2-4 minutes or until warmed, stirring halfway through. If you have time, reheat in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. This ensures even heat distribution. They will get thicker over time, so add a splash of broth or water before reheating if needed.
Are Lentils Good For You
Lentils are edible seeds from a legume family. So many reasons to incorporate lentils in your diet!
- Lentils are a nutrition powerhouse a plant-based source of complex carbs, fiber and whopping 25% of protein.
- According to Healthline, 1 cup of cooked lentils provides 40 grams of carbs, 16 grams of fiber and 18 grams of protein.
- Fiber in lentils helps with regular bowel movements and good bacteria growth in your gut.
And fun fact, Canada is the largest producer of lentils these days. Thats where I live.
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How Long Do You Soak Lentils
To do it, pour your lentils in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Whereas larger beans sometimes require up to 24 hours of soaking, lentils are small enough that two to four hours should suffice. Then drain the water and give the lentils another quick rinse with fresh, cold water and youre all set to cook.
How To Cook Red Lentil Curry In Pressure Cooker
Let’s start with gathering the ingredients. This Masoor Dal recipe uses very basic ingredients – red;lentils, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chili pepper and spices to make the dal.
You can use whole or split red lentils in this recipe.
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How Long To Cook Lentils In Instant Pot
I like my lentils more on the al dente side, so they can hold their shape, and I can use them in salads without worrying about them turning to mush, so cooking them at high pressure for 3 minutes and a slower natural release of 12 minutes is the perfect combination for me.
Once the pressure has been released, I add in a minute or two in the Instant Pots sauté mode so that the vinegar can plump up the lentils and brighten up the flavor. If there are any uncooked lentils, I find that these few mins on sauté will cook them through just fine.
If you like your green lentils more cookedor mushieryou can increase the cooking time to 5 or 6 minutes under high pressure.
