We have for you 21 delicious lentil recipes that are vegetarian, wholesome, and probably the best ways to eat lentils every day. These recipes are easy to follow, budget-friendly, and require a few basic pantry staples.
About Lentils…
Lentils and legumes are a great source of vegan, gluten-free plant-based protein. What else I love about lentils? They are inexpensive, easy to store, fulfilling, and highly versatile ingredient.
I am listing 21 Best Lentil Recipes that will teach you how to eat lentil deliciously.
Lentil Salads, Soups & Stew:
Instant Pot Lentil Soup (Mulligatawny)
Mulligatawny Soup is classic gluten-free, vegan, one-pot creamy lentil soup. It has lentils, rice, vegetables, spices, and my favorite coconut milk. All these fulfilling ingredients make this 10 minute instant pot soup a perfect weeknight dinner.
Mediterranean Style Lentil Salad
Lentil Salad is the best way to eat lentils with a lot of veggies, greens, herbs soaked in a flavorsome dressing. It is a wholesome, nutritious, fulfilling salad perfect for the summer season.
Lentil Waffles
These vegan waffles are no ordinary waffles, I added red lentils to give them some protein boost. Intrigued enough to read further?
Red Lentil Tortilla Soup
We all love easy, healthy Dump & Start Red Lentil Tortilla Soup isn’t it! This Tex Mex Red Lentil Tortilla Soup is ready in minutes in your Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker.
Gluten-Free Lentil Cutlet
Gluten-Free Masoor Dal Cutlet Recipe is a satiating party appetizer or teatime snack with a crisp exterior and soft kebab like texture underneath. Serve these cutlets with the dip of your choice.
Red Lentil Carrot Soup
This red lentil and carrot soup is an easy and delicious dairy-free soup that is perfect for a chilly winter day. It’s incredibly easy to make, made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and comes together in just about 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Vegan Lentil Stew
This is an instant pot-friendly, vegan lentil stew recipe. It has lentils, seasonal veggies, and all things comforting you need in a perfect one-pot meal.
Instant Pot Ethiopian Lentil Stew
Misir Wot is a healthy, protein-packed Ethiopian stew made with lentils, and a flavorful spice mix called Berbere. This EASY Instant Pot recipe is quick to make and served with rice makes a complete meal.
Lentil Falafel
Made with lentils instead of chickpeas, this lentil falafel isn’t your average falafel and makes for a great addition to salads and sandwiches.
Lentil Curry & Main Course:
Dal Makhani
Dal Makhani is the hearty, creamy, mildly flavored Indian dal recipe. It’s buttery texture simply melts in the mouth. Hence, it is just perfect to dip naan or serve as a main-dish with jeera rice.
Lentil Rogan Josh
This vegetarian rogan josh is packed with wholesome ingredients – it’s healthy comfort food for chilly days. This aubergine curry is vegetarian/ vegan and a great way to satisfy a curry craving.
Red Lentil Curry
Quick and easy Red Lentil Curry, also known as Masoor Dal, made in the instant pot and stovetop. This super delicious, healthy and budget-friendly vegan meal can be made in less than 30 minutes!
Oats Lentil Porridge
Oats Khichdi is an Indian style oats porridge packed with vegetables and yellow moong dal. It’s a fabulous vegetarian one-pot casserole meal cooked in a pressure.
Instant Pot Lentil Chilli
Lentil Chilli is so chunky and hearty, even meat-lovers will be pleased. Thanks to a combination of beans, lentils and butternut squash, this vegetarian chili recipe will rival any meat-based chili out there.
Lentil Ragu Bolognese
Spaghetti with lentil sauce, sometimes called lentil bolognese or lentil ragu, is a hearty, traditional dish from Italy. Nutritious and packed with protein, it is great for vegetarians, vegans and anyone who loves Italian food.
Lentil Shepherd Pie
This vegan shepherd’s pie is packed with plant-based protein and incredible flavors! It’s so easy to make, and ready in under an hour. Serve this for special occasions, a wintery dinner, or pack it for lunch. Great for meal prep, and suitable for freezing.
Red Lentil Tacos
his easy Red Lentil Tacos Recipe is the perfect weeknight meatless meal that the whole family will love! An easy Vegetarian Taco Meat is ready to eat in under 30 minutes, making it a simple, quick, and healthy meal.
Spinach Chana Dal
Spinach Chana Dal is a healthy, wholesome, gluten-free Indian style chana dal with spinach. It is super easy and quick to prepare in a pressure cooker.
Palak Chana Dal
Madras Lentils
Madras Lentils is a delicious and satisfying vegetarian dish from Northern India. Full of bold flavors from ginger, cumin, chili powder, and more, this plant-based dish is easy to make and perfect for weeknights!
Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry
This easy to make Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry is a healthy vegan recipe that makes a perfect meatless Monday dinner recipe. It takes less than an hour (mostly hands-off time) to make and is packed full of delicious Indian flavors.
Indian Lentil Khichdi
Dal Khichdi is an Indian style lentil and rice one-pot, gluten-free dish. Khichdi is wholesome, fulfilling and a comforting vegetarian Indian food recipe. Dal Khichdi laced with ghee and served with pickle, sliced onions, and raita is an absolute family favorite lunch.
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Spaghetti Aglio Olio is an easy pasta recipe that requires minimal ingredients. Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil takes less than 20 minutes in an instant pot . Isn’t that dinner recipe of your dreams?
Spaghetti Aglio E Olio
What does aglio olio mean? Aglio e Olio sauce is as simple as you read this. Chopped garlic is slightly fried in pure extra virgin olive oil; a few cups of starchy pasta water is added to thicken the sauce. Sprinkle fresh parsley and parmesan cheese before serving.
Spaghetti Aglio Olio is a popular Italian pasta recipe that translates to spaghetti with garlic and olive oil.
Somebody rightly said this great pasta recipe from Naples is simple enough to whip up at the end of a big night out.
It is one of my favourite comfort food. Spaghetti Alio e Olio is the perfect example of how minimal yet quality ingredients can make a difference to the flavour.
The right combination of garlic and olive oil does all the magic and converts the humble pasta into a flavorful dish.
My trick for making the best spaghetti aglio olio is perfectly emulsifying the garlic, oil, and pasta starch.
Ingredients Required
Pasta: Spaghetti, linguini, Cappellini or any other pasta with thin strands is perfect for aglio olio sauce.
Parsley : Greens like parsley, basil or cilantro add freshness to the dish.
Garlic : If you LOVE garlic, this is your dream pasta recipe. Use fresh garlic pods for an authentic taste.
Olive Oil : The quality of olive oil can make or break an aglio olio sauce. Try to use the best available extra virgin olive oil for this pasta dish.
Red Chilli Flakes : The little kick of heat from the crushed red pepper flakes take aglio olio pasta to another level.
Additional Ingredients:
There are many options for adding a few extra items to spaghetti aglio olio! Here is a list of my favourites:
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Black Pitted Olives
- Grilled Vegetables
- Baby Spinach
- Kale
- Italian Basil
- Roasted Mushrooms
- Shrimps
- Mussels
- Fried Bacon
- Grilled Chicken
- Grated Parmesan
My Tried & True Tips
You need to FINE CHOP the garlic. The fine bits of garlic emulsified in oil creates a finger-licking sauce.
Adjust the quantity of red chilli flakes as per your liking. If you want to make pasta spicy, add a tablespoon; for kids, you can skip adding pepper flakes.
Add garlic and pepper flakes together in the olive oil. Let them sizzle and emulsify in the olive oil at the same time.
Once you add uncooked spaghetti to the inner pot. Set the SAUTE Mode for 1 – 2 minutes. This way, the pasta will soften and submerge in water before closing the IP lid. Otherwise, it would be best to break it in half to fit inside the inner pot.
Add sun-dried tomato and parsley once the pasta is cooked. Toss them gently with the pasta before serving.
If you skip the cheese, spaghetti aglio olio is a vegan pasta recipe. Or you can sprinkle vegan cheese on your pasta.
Serving Suggestion
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio tastes divine with a green salad or homemade Italian focaccia bread for mopping all the finger-licking garlic and olive oil sauce.
You can serve with vegetarian side dishes like stir-fried broccoli , herb-roasted potatoes , or air fryer green beans for a complete meal.
There are tons of variations for the pasta aglio olio recipe. From vegetables, seafood, meat, bacon, and olives to cheese and greens, you can add anything to this classic pasta dish to make it your own.
Spaghetti is the best pasta for garlic and olive sauce. You can use Angel Hair Pasta, Cappellini, Taglierini, or any other delicate texture strand pasta for the aglio olio sauce.
Transfer to a glass or ceramic container with the lid and sauce. Refrigerate for 3 – 5 days. It tastes best after 24 hours or when served cold.
More Pasta Recipes
Stir Fry Pasta
Minestrone Soup
White Sauce Pasta
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Creamy Pasta Salad
Tomato Sauce Pasta
Chicken Broccoli Pasta
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Ingredients
- ▢ 200 gram uncooked spaghetti
- ▢ ¼ Cup extra virgin olive oil
- ▢ 2 tablespoon fine chopped or sliced garlic
- ▢ 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes (or to taste)
- ▢ ¼ Cup roughly chopped parsley
- ▢ Salt to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- ▢ grated parmesan cheese
- ▢ ¼ Cup roughly chopped sun-dried tomato
Instructions
- Set IP to Saute mode for 5 minutes. Add olive oil, chili flakes, and garlic. Saute till the aroma of garlic is released. This takes a minute. Stir in between. No need to brown the garlic.
- Add 3 cups of water. If you want the pasta to be saucy then add 4 cups of water. Season with salt according to your taste.
- Add uncooked spaghetti. Now, let it simmer in the sauce till the end of Saute time. So that the pasta strands soften a bit before closing the IP lid and you don’t have to break them into half.
- Close the lid of the IP. Set the Pressure Cook mode for 5 minutes. Move the steam valve to the Sealing position.
- After 5 minutes, manually release the steam. Open the lid, add parsley, sun-dried tomato, and toss pasta gently. The pasta liquid and oil will emulsify, thickening and coating the spaghetti.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan and some more parsley before serving (optional). Enjoy Spaghetti Aglio Olio with focaccia bread .
Recipe Notes:
- You need to really FINE CHOP the garlic .
- Adjust the quantity of red chili flakes as per personal preference.
- Add garlic and pepper flakes together in the olive oil. Let them sizzle and emulsify in the olive oil at the same time.
- Once you add uncooked spaghetti in the inner pot. Let it simmer in saute mode for 1 – 2 minutes. This way pasta will soften a bit and get submerged in water before closing the IP lid. Else, you have to break into half to fit inside the inner pot.
- In case, accidentally you add too much water to cook the pasta, set the saute mode for 10 minutes to reduce the water.
- Add sun-dried tomato and parsley once the pasta is cooked. Toss them gently with the pasta before serving.
- If you skip the cheese, this is a 100% vegan pasta recipe.
Nutrition
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