In Italy and France, people who eat meat also eat lentils, yet in England they tend to be reserved for people who are vegan or vegetarian. That’s a shame, because these middle-eastern pulses are super-tasty and make great (cheap) replacements for meat, and also are packed with protein and calcium. If you have a half-opened bag of lentils lying around in the cupboard (or some tins you bought on sale at the supermarket), here are some recipe ideas to use them up.
Vegan Lentil Loaf (Easy Cheesy Vegetarian) uses easy-cook red lentils with oats, onion, carrot, garlic, herbs, spices, chives and veggie stock. Lovely with mashed potatoes, greens and vegan gravy.
Keep these recipes away from pets, due to unsafe ingredients like salt, onion, garlic and mushrooms. Read more on keeping people & pets safe in the kitchen.
There are three main types of lentils. Red lentils are the quickest to cook. Brown or green lentils are more ‘earthy’ in flavour and good as meat replacements for things like spaghetti bolognese or shepherd’s pie. They take a bit longer to cook, but are easy to find in tins. If you do buy bags of dried lentils (many zero waste shops sell them loose), then recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins, if your council does not collect at kerbside.
a Louisiana Creole-style lentil gumbo stew
Gumbo (Ela Vegan) is a popular dish in the Deep South state of Louisiana. Very filling, this Creole dish uses the ‘holy trinity’ of celery, onions and bell pepper, with lentils and beans, serve with bread or rice.
1-pot creamy vegan lentil pasta dish
One Pot Red Lentil Pasta (I Heart Vegetables) will soon be replacing a watery jar of tomato sauce. This rich sauce is made with vegan butter along with tomatoes, onion, garlic, herbs, spinaches, spices and veggie broth. The ‘cream’ is made by adding a plant-based cream cheese.
homemade lentil & quinoa burgers
Quinoa lentil burgers (Ela Vegan) are simple to make and more affordable than buying faux meat burgers. Made with tomato pasta, garlic, onion, soy sauce and spices, serve in buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, cucumber and sauce.
a Greek-style lentil moussaka
Lentil Moussaka (Ela Vegan) is a lovely Greek dish, which replaces the lamb with lentils, tomatoes, potatoes and aubergine in a thick vegan bechamel sauce.
a plant-based vegan lentil omelette
This vegan omelette (Ela Vegan) uses ground lentils over tofu to make a wonderful breakfast or light lunch, spiced with cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast and made ‘eggy’ with kala namak (black salt).
2-ingredient red lentil wraps
These 2-ingredient lentil wraps (Ela Vegan) use dried red lentils and veggie broth. You simply blend the rinsed lentils with broth and water, then leave to soak for a few hours. Then cook the batter in a pan, just like pancakes. Add optional onion or garlic powder or smoked paprika.