18 Ways to Eat More Lentils

This inexpensive, easy-to-cook vegetarian protein is endlessly adaptable

By August 10, 2019

Lentil Salad with Pork
Matt Taylor-Gross

Lentils are a year-round staple for every kitchen, perfect for amping up a salad in the summer and cozying up a soup in the winter. From the Persian lentil rice dish (adas polo) to the Swedish puy lentil salad (sallad på puylinser) to the Hyderabadi-style lentil stew (khatti dal), there are so many ways to enjoy lentils. Here are 18 of our favorite lentil recipes from all over the world.

With Bread Tahdig: Adas Polo

A thin layer of lavash bread can be cooked beneath the rice to serve as a tahdig. Press it flat against the pot for even cooking. Get the recipe for Persian Lentil Rice with Lavash Tahdig (Adas Polo) »
Get the recipe for Dal Dhokli Roti »

Masala Dosa

A masala dosa feast includes turmeric-tinged potato sabzi, rich gun­powder chile paste, and crisp, airy wrappers. Get the recipe for Masala Dosa »

Lentil Salad with Pork

Lentil Salad with Pork

Sprouts, Kohlrabi, and Beet Salad with Herbed Crème Fraîche Dressing

Sprouts, Kohlrabi, and Beet Salad with Herbed Crème Fraîche Dressing

Spiced Dal with Peanuts and Dill

Spiced Dal with Peanuts and Dill

Coconut-Cilantro Chutney (Hara Dhaniya Ki Chutney)

This Indian chutney uses an array of ingredients, blending yellow split peas with coconut, cilantro, ginger, and chile.

Hyderabadi-Style Lentil Stew (Khatti Dal)

Hyderabadi-Style Lentil Stew (Khatti Dal)

Dosas (South Indian Fermented Lentil and Rice Crêpes)

Dosas (South Indian Fermented Lentil and Rice Crêpes)

Lentil Stew with Coconut (Dalma)

In the east Indian state of Odisha, this lentil stew, fragrant with coconut and enriched with silky, thinly sliced onions and long-simmered sweet potatoes, is an everyday staple.

French Lentil Salad with Blue Cheese

A neutral base of lentil salad lets the pleasant sharpness of the Bleu d’Auvergne cheese, which is aged in sweet wine at La Fromagerie du Comtat, take center stage in this salad. Get the recipe for French Lentil Salad with Blue Cheese »

Coconut Beluga Lentils

At Turtle Bay Estate House on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, chef Anthony Dawodu enriches lentils with sweet coconut milk. Get the recipe for Coconut Beluga Lentils »

Lentil Salad with Beets and Pomegranate

Packed full of glowing winter produce—sweet roasted beets, tart pomegranate seeds—this lentil salad makes a colorful addition to the winter table. Pair it with chicken, beef, lamb, or fish, or serve it as a vegetarian main; it’s hearty enough to stand on its own. Get the recipe for Lentil Salad with Beets and Pomegranate »

Red Lentils with Green Mango (Malika Masoor Dal)

In early spring, green, unripe mangoes are a featured ingredient in the daily menu at Raja Sulaiman Khan’s home in Lucknow, India. Here, amchoor—dried green mango—adds sour pungency to creamy lentils.

Sallad på Puylinser (Puy Lentil Salad)

Puy lentils from France’s Haute-Loire region are celebrated for their robust, earthy flavor, which shines in this lively salad from Pelle Lundberg, a home cook in Vickleby, Sweden. The lentils, tossed with cherry tomatoes sautéed in butter and olive oil, flavored with rosemary and thyme, and then dressed in balsamic, make a festive vegetarian main course or a robust side dish for a Swedish Midsummer lunch. Get the recipe for Sallad på Puylinser (Puy Lentil Salad) »

Lentil Stew with Coconut (Dalma)

In the east Indian state of Odisha, this lentil stew, fragrant with coconut and enriched with silky, thinly sliced onions and long-simmered sweet potatoes, is an everyday staple.

Lentil and Beet Salad with Lavender-Mustard Vinaigrette

A honey-sweetened dressing of orange juice infused with lavender lends floral notes to a hearty lentil salad.

Curried Lentils with Poached Eggs

Curried Lentil with Poached Eggs

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