118 red lentil recipes

Shepherdless pie with red lentils, pearl barley, carrots, and tomatoes under a cheesy mashed potato crust. A hearty vegetarian twist on the British classic.

Lentils and spaghetti tossed with sauteed kale, ham, cumin, and red pepper flakes in chicken broth. A hearty, high-protein pasta loaded with greens and earthy lentils.

Brown lentils and long grain rice simmered with ghee, cinnamon, turmeric, and fresh green chili. A warming one-pot side dish ready in 45 minutes.

Lentil salad with cooked green and red lentils, green beans, celery, parsley, and a tangy mustard-Italian dressing. A high-fiber, high-protein vegetarian salad ready in 15 minutes.

Spaghetti with lentils in a slow-simmered tomato sauce with red wine, basil, oregano, and thyme. A hearty vegetarian pasta dinner with protein-rich lentils instead of meat.

Lucknawi dal simmers pink lentils with turmeric and tamarind, then finishes with a sizzling tadka of cumin seeds, fried onion, garlic, ginger, and dried red chili. Sour, smoky, and brothy in the best Awadhi tradition.

Spicy Western slow-cooker beans combining pinto beans, red kidney beans, lentils, smoky bacon, and chili powder with tomatoes and cumin. Cowboy-style beans with a peppery kick.

Green lentil soup with crushed tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and grated onion simmered for 2 1/2 hours. A splash of red vinegar at the end lifts the whole pot. Hearty, vegetarian, and deeply flavored.

Vegan eggplant dal with roasted eggplant folded into red lentils simmered with popped mustard seeds, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. A smoky Indian lentil sauce.

Misr allecha, an Ethiopian red lentil stew simmered with turmeric, garlic, and hot pepper into a thick, vibrant puree. A vegan, gluten-free side built for scooping with injera.

Red lentils and carrots simmer with curry spices into a hearty soup thickened with breadcrumbs. This warming bowl takes just one pot and delivers protein-rich comfort in about an hour.

A hearty Bulgarian stew of lentils and navy beans simmered with sweet red peppers, paprika, and herbs in a rich broth deepened with prune juice and tomato paste. Vegan-friendly and high in fiber.

A delicious and tasty dish made with yellow split peas, spinach and a variety of spices.

Garlic lover's lentil soup: a quarter cup of garlic anchors this pressure cooker lentil soup with leeks, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and balsamic. Vegan, high fiber.

Masoor dal: creamy Indian red lentils simmered with cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, and fresh coconut milk. A vegetarian, gluten-free classic ready in 40 minutes.

Good luck New Year's soup: a hearty mix of black-eyed peas, lentils, and beans simmered low with smoky ham, tomato, and garlic until thick. The legume-packed pot that's said to bring prosperity in the new year.