How to cook lentils

Step 2

Rinse lentils well under warm water using a mesh strainer. I will tell you from experience that, due to their small size, lentils will fall right through a regular colander, so invest in a mesh sieve like the one I used linked here. You’ll find that they handy with rinsing rice, quinoa, and many other grains as well.

Step 5

Make sure to pick out any peoples or other debris.

Step 8

Place the lentils in a stockpot and add 2 cups of water or vegetable broth for every 1 cup of lentils. You can add more liquid as they are cooking if they begin to look too dry.

Step 11

Bring the pot to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and allow to cook 20-25 minutes (brown, green, and black lentils), stirring occasionally.

Step 14

Add liquid if necessary and continue cooking until the lentils are tender but not mushy.

Step 17

Remove from heat and serve immediately.