How to Cook Red Lentils

close-up of uncooked red lentils in a white bowl with some scattered around on the table.

Discover all you need to know about how to cook red lentils so they come out perfectly each and every time. This healthy ingredient cooks quickly making it perfect for easy weeknight meals.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword how long to cook red lentils, how to cook red lentils, red lentils

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings people

Calories 159kcal

Author Sherri Hall

Ingredients

1 cup red lentils
3 cups water or vegetable broth
salt to taste

Instructions

Rinse the red lentils in a colander. Check for any broken or damaged lentils or small stones that could be in them.
Transfer the rinsed lentils to a pot and add water to the pot.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer.
Simmer with the lid tilted until desired tenderness is reached, about 10 minutes (you can cook for a little less time if you want them less mushy and a little more time if you prefer them more mushy). Add salt to taste after cooking.

Notes

Rinse red lentils prior to cooking and make sure they aren’t any stones.
It's a good idea to add the salt at the end of cooking as adding it before may lengthen the cooking time.
Age matters. Older lentils take longer to cook and if they are super old, they may not ever lose a bit of crunch!
If you don't like mushy lentils and prefer them firmer, reduce the cooking time or try a different lentil such as brown lentils or black lentils which hold their shape and have a firmer texture.
If your lentils end up with excess water, you can let them sit prior to serving and let them absorb the extra water or drain a bit of it off.

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Nutrition