24 Delicious Canned And Dry Lentil Recipes
(Photo: Christie Vuong; Food Styling: Sage Dakota; Prop Styling: Andrea McCrindle)
Lentils are a pantry staple and extremely versatile—but if you're not sure how to use them, our lentils 101 primer will help you sort out all the options available. (Whether you've got canned, dried, brown, red or green lentils in the cupboards.)
And remember, pre-cooking dried green lentils are a great alternative to canned green lentils. Most are quick to cook, but you can also refrigerate or freeze them for later use:
How to cook dried green lentils
- Rinse 1 cup whole, dried green lentils under running water, then boil them with 2½ cups water until just tender, about 20 minutes.
- Drain, then divide up the batch and portion the lentils into 1 cup servings, then store these cooked lentils in a tightly sealed freezer container or bag for up to a month.
- To thaw, simply move a pre-portioned container from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before.
- A 540 mL can of lentils drained is approximately equivalent to 2 cups of cooked lentils.
Our best lentil recipes
Mexican Lentil Soup
Uses: 1 whole bag of dry red or green lentils.
This flavourful soup comes is satisfying, delicious and healthy. Get this Mexican lentil soup recipe.
Veggie And Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
Uses: 1 540-mL can lentils
Add this hearty shepherd’s pie to your next plant-based dinner plan, featuring a cozy blend of veggies, fresh thyme and soft mashed potatoes. Get our Veggie And Lentil Shepherd’s Pie recipe.
Mushroom and Lentil Stroganoff
Uses: 1 540-mL can lentils
With tender roasted potatoes, chunks of cremini mushrooms and lemon-zested cabbage, this vegan stroganoff is dream dinner plan feature. Get our Mushroom and Lentil Stroganoff recipe.
Vegetarian haggis cottage pie
Uses: 1 540-mL can of lentils
A hearty one-dish meal packed with plant-based protein and vegetables. Topped with fluffy mashed potatoes, it's a comforting cold-weather meal for everyone. Get this vegetarian haggis cottage pie recipe.
Red Lentil Dip with Mint
Uses: 3/4 cup red lentils.
A good source of protein and folate, enjoy this dip with your favourite raw veggies. Get this red lentil dip with mint recipe.
Seared Salmon With Lentil Salad
Uses: 1 540-mL can lentils
Served on a bed of garlicky lentils and fresh arugula, this pan-seared salmon is bursting with flavour. Get our Seared Salmon With Lentil Salad recipe.
Neapolitan lentil pasta (pasta e lenticchie)
Uses: 1 1/2 cups drained rehydrated or canned brown lentils.
A hearty pasta filled with delicious lentils. Get this neopolitan lentil pasta recipe.
Plant-based Lentil Jamaican Patties
Uses: 1/2 cup dried green lentils.
This is a vegan version of the comfort food classic. Get this plant-based lentil Jamaican patties recipe.
Red lentil burger recipe
Uses: 1 cup of red lentils.
Loaded with carrots, onions and spinach, these vegetarian patties are a healthy (and satisfying) substitute for your usual beef burger. Get this red lentil burger recipe.
Salmon, Lentil & Quinoa Pilaf
Uses: 1/2 cup of dry green lentils.
Packed with protein, fibre and brain-boosting nutrients. Get our salmon, lentil and quinoa pilaf recipe.
Mushroom grain bowl
Uses: 1 can of green lentils.
A super-nutritious meal of earthy mushrooms, green lentils, quinoa, hazelnuts and goat cheese—this bowl is a delicious pick any night of the week. Get this mushroom grain bowl recipe.
Lentil, Feta And Mint Salad
Uses: 1 cup cooked green lentils
Loaded with baby spinach, cucumber, lentils and tomatoes, this hearty salad adds flavour to any table. Get our lentil, feta and mint salad recipe.
Halloumi and sweet potato skewers with lentil salad
Uses: 1 540-mL can of lentils
Sweet potato skewers with halloumi cheese (which has a higher melt point) on a lentil salad is a great vegetarian addition to any BBQ. Get this halloumi and sweet-potato skewers with lentil salad recipe.
Smoky Braised Lentils With Halloumi
Uses: 1 1/2 cups of dry green lentils.
Braised vegetables and warm, fried cheese are a perfect match. Add some dark leafy kale, and it’s a hearty, vegetable-rich dinner plate. Get this smoky braised lentils with halloumi recipe.
Lentil cakes in pita with yogurt
Uses: Leftover lentils from smoky braised lentils with halloumi.
Using yesterday’s leftover lentils (we love a good shortcut) and the food processor means these flavourful lentil cakes are ready in no time. Cook them for just 3 minutes a side, and stuff them into a pita with fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion and spiced yogurt for a deliciously easy finish. Get this lentil cakes in pita with yogurt recipe.
Italian-Style Lentil Soup
Uses: 1 1/2 cups dry green lentils.
A filling soup packed with healthy legumes, plus pancetta, rosemary and parmesan to round out the flavour. Get this Italian-style lentil soup recipe.
Lentil Pot Pie
Uses: 1 cup of dry green lentils.
Lentils are a hero ingredient in the pantry — and they last forever (or at least until you need a satisfying, healthy, meatless meal). Get this lentil pot pie recipe.
Lentil Bolognese
Uses: 2 cans of green lentils.
Save time with one dish, done two ways. Tonight it’s a saucy (meatless!) bolognese, and tomorrow it’s ragu over polenta. Get this lentil bolognese recipe.
Lentil ragu over polenta
Uses: Yesterday’s lentil bolognese.
Heat up last night’s sauce, cook up some creamy polenta, and voila! Instant meal. Get this lentil ragu over polenta recipe.
Puy lentils with roasted carrots and harissa
Uses: 1 1/2 cups of dried puy lentils.
These small green lentils look and taste lovely as a base for roasted vegetables, and they’re packed with protein and fibre as well. Look for them in bulk food shops. Get this Puy lentils with roasted carrots and harissa recipe.
Moroccan Lentil Stew
Uses: 1 cup of red lentils.
This stew pairs spices with healthy legumes to create a fragrant, filling, high-protein meal. Get this Moroccan lentil stew recipe.
Fresh vegetable omelette with lentils
Uses: 1/4 cup of canned green lentils.
Lentils in an omelette? They add flavour, texture and dimension—and a hit of healthy folate too. Get this fresh vegetable omelette with lentils recipe.
Lentil, kale and sausage soup
Uses: 1 can of lentils.
Get a delicious burst of green nutrition in every spoonful. Get this lentil, kale and sausage soup recipe.
Sweet-And-Sour Curry Vegetable Stew
Uses: 1 whole can of green lentils.
Packed with hearty ingredients, and simmered to a tangy and tender finish, this vegetarian curry is a must-try. Get this sweet and sour Indian vegetable stew recipe.
Wheat-berry, kale and cranberry salad
Uses: 2 1/2 cups green lentils.
This colourful salad is so good for you. Rich in fibre and vitamins, it bursts with flavour. (Not sure if you like wheat berries? Substitute 2 1/2 cups cooked brown rice, quinoa or green lentils.) Get this wheat-berry, kale, cranberry and lentil salad recipe.
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