The humble little lentil is anything but just another legume. Lentils are full of fiber, protein and minerals; their hearty but mild flavor makes them compatible with all sorts of spices and cuisines. Some are firmer, making them great for salads, while some will apart when you cook them—perfect for dals, stews and creamy soups. And, as we mentioned in our Guide to Lentils, all types of them are easy to cook. Learn to love lentils with these 20 delicious vegetarian lentil recipes!
Lentil Mushroom Burgers
Lentils and mushrooms team up to bulk up these hearty veggie burgers.
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Slow Cooker Mushrooom-Lentil Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
You've probably seen recipes for cabbage rolls stuffed with beef or pork—these veggie rolls rely on protein-packed lentils for the "meaty" filling.
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Red Lentil Cashew Soup with Curry Toasted Cashews
When lentils are blended, they make soups (like this red lentil and cashew recipe) super creamy.
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Greek Lentil Salad with Tofu Feta
If you like quinoa or other grains in your salad, try adding lentils—they'll give your greens some extra protein and texture. This VegKitchen recipe is a great place to start.
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Heat-Free Lentil & Walnut Tacos
Lentils and nuts are a vegan's best friends when it comes to fillings, like in these heat-free tacos.
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Butternut Squash, Lentil & Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
Creamy tahini dressing complements the earthy flavors of lentils, squash and kale in this fall salad.
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Vegan Cincinnati Chili
You don't need meat to make chili, and this lentil-based vegan Cincinnati chili is proof!
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Winter Potato & Lentil Stew
Lentils are lighter than beans, making them perfect to add to heavier dishes like this Winter Potato Stew from VegKitchen.
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Curried Red Lentil & Quinoa Bowls with Cilantro-Mint Chutney
Red lentils get creamy as they cook, and their mild flavor means you can top them with just about anything, like this fresh and bright cilantro-mint chutney.
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Lentil and Roasted Root Vegetable Strudel
A good strudel includes lots of hearty ingredients. Lentils and roasted winter veggies do the job in these surprisingly easy strudels, complete with goat cheese and pesto.
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Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup
Lentils are a cheap and easy way to bulk up (and add nutrition to) just about any soup!
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Mango Lentil Salad
Bright mangoes and an irresistible cilantro-lime dressing make VegKitchen's lentil salad totally Potluck-worthy.
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Sloppy Lentil Sandwiches
Miss Sloppy Joes but not a fan of faux meats? Make your own with this tangy, lentil-based veg version of a childhood fave.
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Herbed French Lentil Salad
This salad only sounds fancy—French lentils just have a slight green color and stay firmer when they cook, making them perfect for cold lentil salads like this.
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Lentil Mushroom Meatballs
Swap out the meat in your meatballs, and opt for fiber-packed lentils, which have an incredibly "meaty" texture—without being weird.
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Masala Lentils
If you've been intimated by making dal, don't be! Just start with this easy version from VegKitchen.
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Vegetarian Salisbury Steaks
A classic comfort food gets a vegetarian makeover thanks to the dream team of lentils and mushrooms.
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Lazy Lentil Shepherds Pie
You can make a hearty, satisfying shepherds pie sans meat. And you can be totally lazy about it, thanks to one shortcut: a can of lentil soup.
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Middle Eastern Lentil & Rice Soup
Chili can be too heavy, but this Middle Eastern-spiced lentil-and-rice soup is satisfying without weighing you down. Just add pita bread!
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Mjeddrah
Mjeddrah is a savory rice-lentil pilaf topped with sautéed onions. Serve it as the main dish, or make it a simple side.
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A Comprehensive Guide to Lentils
Learn everything you need to know about cooking with lentils, including the different types and cooking times.
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2 Comments
Laura
September 15, 2015 at 3:57 pmI want to try all of these!
Laura
http://thefoxtrails.blogspot.com/
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
September 16, 2015 at 11:33 pmAwesome round-up, thanks for sharing! I love lentils and would love to get more creative with them. Pinning this now!