Algerian Mhadjeb Red Lentil Flatbreads
Crisp semolina parcels with a warmly spiced red-lentil and tomato filling make a satisfying handheld dinner for two.
- 50 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
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Lentil Dinner Ideas
51 lentil dinner recipes for home cooks, with cooking times.
Lentils cook without soaking, which makes them one of the quickest dried pulses for dinner, and every recipe in this collection is vegetarian. You will find Armenian lentil patties with yogurt, Bangladeshi khichuri, Bolivian ají de lentejas with quinoa, Algerian red lentil flatbreads and Catalan escalivada with romesco lentils. Red lentils break down into soups and dals; green and brown lentils hold their shape for salads and bowls.
51 dinner ideas
Antiguan Fungee and Peppery Lentils
Creamy cornmeal fungee and peppery tomato lentils make a colorful, vegan Caribbean-style plate.
- 35 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Armenian Pasuts Dolma Lentil Stuffed Cabbage
Armenian Pasuts Dolma Lentil Stuffed Cabbage is a practical 55-minute dinner for 3, layering 8 cabbage leaves with 1 cup cooked green lentils and bright ground allspice.
- 55 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Armenian Vospov Kofte Lentil Patties with Yogurt
Red lentil and bulgur patties with lemony yogurt turn Armenian-inspired vospov kofte into a satisfying meal for two.
- 45 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Bangladeshi Bhuna Khichuri with Egg
A warmly spiced rice and lentil pot becomes dinner with a jammy egg, fried onion, and lemon.
- 40 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Bangladeshi Dal Puri with Aloo Curry
Split peas ground and sealed inside puri dough, fried until they balloon, with a potato curry.
- 50 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Barbadian Cou-Cou with Tomato Lentils
Okra-studded cornmeal cou-cou and richly seasoned tomato lentils make a quick meat-free Bajan-inspired supper.
- 40 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Bolivian Aji de Lentejas with Quinoa
Lentils stewed in a red aji and cumin sauce with potato, served over quinoa.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Burmese Laphet Thoke Chickpea Salad
A raw tea-leaf salad tossed with chickpeas, crisp nuts, and cabbage, dressed with lime and fish sauce.
- 20 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Catalan Escalivada with Romesco Lentils
Charred peppers, eggplant and onions sit over lentils with a nutty Catalan-style romesco sauce.
- 45 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Colombian Hogao Lentil Arepas
Griddled corn arepas topped with lentils and hogao, the slow-cooked Colombian tomato and scallion sauce.
- 35 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Comorian Coconut Lentil Pilaf
Rice and lentils steamed together in spiced coconut milk with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Costa Rican Casado Lentil Plates
A plated casado of rice, stewed lentils, fried plantain, and a sharp tomato and cabbage salad.
- 40 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Detroit Coney-Style Lentil Dogs
A fine-textured lentil chili spooned over hot dogs with mustard and raw onion, Detroit style.
- 30 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Egyptian Koshari Express with Crispy Onions
Lentils, rice, and macaroni layered under a cumin tomato sauce and a heap of crisp fried onions.
- 50 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Egyptian Koshari with Crispy Onions
Lentils, rice, pasta and chickpeas are layered with spiced tomato sauce and crisp onions.
- 55 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Eritrean Zigni Lentil Stew
Red lentils cooked down with berbere, fenugreek, and slow-melted onions into a deep, fiery stew.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Ethiopian Azifa Lentil Salad with Berbere Potatoes
Tangy lentils and crisp berbere-roasted potatoes turn the classic Azifa flavor profile into a fast vegan dinner.
- 40 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Ethiopian Misir Wat with Teff Flatbread
Red lentils simmered into a thick berbere stew over slowly melted onions, scooped up with flatbread.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Ethiopian-Inspired Misir Wot with Braised Cabbage
Berbere-spiced red lentils pair with turmeric-braised cabbage, carrots, and potatoes for a deeply warming vegan meal.
- 45 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Grenadian Nutmeg Lentil Patties
Flaky pastry turnovers filled with nutmeg-spiced lentils and carrot, baked until golden.
- 35 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Indian Amritsari Kulcha with Chole
Stuffed griddled flatbreads with a dark, tangy chickpea chole.
- 50 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Indian Gujarati Handvo Vegetable Cake
A fermented rice and lentil batter baked with grated vegetables under a sesame mustard tempering.
- 50 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Indian Misal Pav with Sprouts
Sprouted beans in a fiery kat gravy, topped with crisp farsan and served with soft rolls.
- 40 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Indian Pesarattu Green Gram Crepes
Whole green mung beans soaked and ground into a batter, spread thin into savoury crepes.
- 35 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Indian Pithla with Bhakri
Chickpea flour whisked into a spiced broth until it thickens into a soft, savoury porridge.
- 30 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Indian Ragi Mudde with Lentil Sambar
Finger millet flour cooked into a dense ball, served with a tamarind lentil sambar.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Iraqi Shorbat Adas Red Lentil Soup
Iraqi Shorbat Adas Red Lentil Soup is a practical 35-minute dinner for 3, layering 1 cup red lentils with 2 cups vegetable stock and bright ground cumin.
- 35 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Jordanian Rashouf Lentil Yogurt Soup
Jordanian Rashouf Lentil Yogurt Soup is a practical 40-minute dinner for 2, layering 1 cup brown lentils with 1 cup plain yogurt and bright dried mint.
- 40 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Kyrgyz Jarma Barley Soup
Toasted barley simmered into a thick soup with chickpeas and finished with yogurt or herbs.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Lebanese Mujadara with Cucumber Tomato Salad
Lentils and rice are topped with deeply caramelized onions and paired with a crisp lemony cucumber tomato salad.
- 50 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Mauritian Dholl Puri Lentil Flatbread Wraps
Ready flatbreads warmed and filled with cumin split peas, curried potato, and tomato chutney.
- 60 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Moroccan Harira Lentil Chickpea Soup
Tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and tiny noodles turn into a fragrant, satisfying soup.
- 45 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Moroccan Harira Lentil Soup
Lentils and chickpeas simmered with cinnamon, turmeric, and tomato, thickened at the end with a flour slurry.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Nepali Dal Bhat with Spinach
Comforting lentils, rice, spinach, and a simple potato side make a complete Nepali-style plate for two.
- 35 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
One-Pot Coconut Red Lentil Curry with Spinach
Red lentils simmer with coconut milk, tomatoes, warm spices, and spinach for a comforting one-pot dinner.
- 35 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Pakistani Bun Kebab with Chutney
Lentil and potato patties fried crisp, tucked into buns with egg and green chutney.
- 35 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Pakistani Daal Chawal Tadka
Red lentils cooked to a soft daal and finished with a sizzling cumin and chili tadka.
- 35 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Palestinian Rummaniyeh Eggplant Lentil Stew
Palestinian Rummaniyeh Eggplant Lentil Stew is a practical 45-minute dinner for 3, layering 1 small eggplant, cubed with 1 cup brown lentils and bright ground coriander.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Persian Adas Polo Lentils with Dates
Fragrant rice, lentils, dates, raisins, and crisp onion give this Persian-inspired vegetarian dinner a sweet-savory balance.
- 40 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Seychellois Lentil and Breadfruit Stew
Lentils and breadfruit simmered in a mild coconut curry until thick and tender.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Somali Canjeero Lentil Wraps
Ready-made canjeero or injera wraps a fragrant lentil, tomato, and spinach filling for a quick vegan dinner.
- 30 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
South African Bobotie Lentil Bake
Curried lentils with raisins and chutney baked under a savoury egg custard until set and golden.
- 55 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Sri Lankan Parippu Curry with String Hoppers
Red lentils simmered in coconut milk with curry leaves and pandan, finished with a fried tempering.
- 35 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Tajik Osh Mosh Rice with Lentils
Rice and mung beans steamed together over a base of browned onion and carrot.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Turkish Mercimek Köfte Lentil Lettuce Cups
Turkish Mercimek Köfte Lentil Lettuce Cups is a practical 35-minute dinner for 3, layering 1 cup red lentils with 3/4 cup fine bulgur and bright Aleppo pepper.
- 35 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Turkish Red Lentil Çorba with Sumac Toast
Velvety red lentil soup, lemon, and sumac toast make a fast 35-minute vegan Turkish dinner for two.
- 35 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils
Turkish Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper
Red lentils cook into a silky, lemon-bright soup finished with warm Aleppo pepper oil and dried mint.
- 35 min
- Serves 4
- Lentils
Uruguayan Lentil Milanesa with Tomato Salad
Breaded lentil patties fried crisp and served with a sharp parsley tomato salad.
- 40 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Uzbek Moshkichiri Mung Bean Rice
Mung beans and rice cooked together with browned onion and cumin into a thick porridge.
- 45 min
- Serves 3
- Lentils
Yemeni Aseedah-Inspired Tomato Lentil Bowl
Yemeni Aseedah-Inspired Tomato Lentil Bowl is a practical 40-minute dinner for 2, layering 3/4 cup quick-cooking polenta with 1 cup cooked brown lentils and bright ground fenugreek.
- 40 min
- Serves 2
- Lentils