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    Home » Mains

    Lentils with Rice

    Published: Jun 6, 2024 · Updated: Aug 14, 2024 by Billi · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Lentils with Rice is a one-pan, flavor-packed, and nutritious dish!  It combines tender lentils with perfectly cooked rice seasoned with aromatic spices.  So easy to prepare and packed with protein and fiber --- a satisfying meal that will surely make you ask for seconds!

    A serving of lentils with rice, drizzled with olive oil, and random dried green lentils around the plate.

    Like potato stew, this easy lentils and rice dish is an excellent choice if you want to steer clear from serving meat --- they are as delicious and filling.

    It's made with green lentils, perfectly cooked rice, and vegetables and seasoned with some heat and earthiness from the spices.  It's a complete meal in every serving.

    I normally don't even serve anything with it, to be honest.  But if you insist, some slices of bread would work --- to wipe your plate off. ;--)

    Oh!  Don't forget that drizzle of olive oil when serving.  Absolute yum!

    FOR MORE EASY ONE-PAN MEALS, CHECK OUT THESE RECIPES!

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    Ingredients

    All the ingredients you need to make lentils with rice at home.
    • Olive oil - extra virgin olive oil for sautéing and serving rice with lentils.
    • Vegetables - garlic, onion, celery, carrot and bell pepper.
    • Lentils - I always use dried green lentils, but pre-cooked lentils will also work.
    • Tomato paste - or tomato puree; just use your favorite brand.
    • Stock - I typically use vegetable stock to make lentils with rice.
    • Rice - I strongly suggest using basmati rice if you have it on hand.
    • Seasoning & spices - bay leaf, cumin, paprika, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper.
    A ladle of lentils, rice and vegetables, for transferring into bowls.

    How to make lentils with rice

    Start by heating oil in a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat.

    Once ready, sauté the garlic and onions --- until they soften.

    Sauteing onion and garlic is the first step in making rice with lentils.

    Add the chopped carrot, celery, bell pepper, and some salt.

    Cooking the spices is a critical step in making rice with lentils.

    Continue sauteing for around three minutes, softening the vegetables.

    Add the tomato paste, cumin, paprika and cayenne.

    Adding the rinsed green lentils with the rest of the vegetables, before the rice.

    Continue cooking for two more minutes --- mixing often to avoid burning the spices (lower the heat if necessary).

    Add the rinsed green lentils.

    Adding the rice, together with the stock, lentils and vegetables.

    Mix, then pour the stock and add the bay leaf.

    Cover with a lid and bring to a boil.

    Adjust the heat to medium-low, and simmer for twenty-five minutes.

    Add the rice and continue simmering for fifteen to eighteen minutes or until the rice is cooked.

    While simmering, taste and adjust the seasoning by adding salt and black pepper (or any of the used spices).

    Remove the pan from heat and transfer your lentils with rice to serving plates.

    Drizzle with olive oil on top ---- and enjoy!

    A pan of easy lentils and rice, out of the heat, and ready for serving.

    Helpful tips

    • Chop the carrots, celery, and bell pepper into the same size. This way, every spoonful will contain at least one piece of all the ingredients, not just rice and lentils.
    • There is no need to simmer the lentils for a long time when cooking pre-cooked ones.  
    • Remember not to add too much salt at once, especially if you are using seasoned stock. It is better to taste it at the end of cooking and adjust accordingly.
    A spoonful of lentils and rice, highlighting all the ingredients that you can fit in one.

    Recipe variation

    • Bell pepper.   You can use any color bell pepper; green, yellow, or orange would be excellent.
    • Potatoes.  Since almost every pantry has these, you can use them as well. Make sure you chop them the same size as the other vegetables, but you add them with the rice unless you want them falling apart when serving.
    • Stock.  Chicken stock will also work and give that slightly different flavor base.

    Looks absolutely delicious, right?  I guarantee you that it is!   So, try this lentils and rice recipe one of these days! 🙂

    OR YOU CAN GET MORE IDEAS FROM THIS LIST OF EASY MAIN DISHES!

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    📖 Recipe

    Easy lentils and rice in a pan, ready for transferring into serving plates.

    Lentils with Rice Recipe

    Lentils and Rice is a one-pan, flavor-packed, and nutritious dish!  It combines tender lentils with perfectly cooked rice seasoned with aromatic spices.  So easy to prepare and packed with protein and fiber --- a satisfying meal that will surely make you ask for seconds!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 375kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Chopping board
    • Kitchen knife
    • Measuring cups
    • Measuring spoons
    • Colander
    • Medium-Sized Saucepan

    Ingredients

    • 140 grams green lentils (2/3 cup), rinsed and drained
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 small onion, chopped finely
    • 1 medium red bell pepper
    • 1 stalk celery
    • 1 small carrot
    • 70 grams rice (1/3 cup)
    • 4 to 4 & 1/2 cups stock
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste, heaping
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 piece dried bay leaf
    • salt and pepper, to season
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    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat.
    • Sauté the garlic and onions and cook until they soften.
    • Add the chopped carrot, celery, bell pepper, salt, and pepper.
    • Continue sauteing for about three minutes.
    • Add the tomato paste, cumin, paprika and cayenne.
    • Continue cooking for two more minutes --- mixing often to prevent burning the spices (lower the heat if necessary).
    • Add the rinsed green lentils and mix.
    • Pour the stock and add the bay leaf.
    • Cover with a lid and bring to a boil.
    • Adjust the heat to medium-low, and simmer for twenty-five minutes.
    • Add the rice and continue simmering for fifteen to eighteen minutes or until the rice is cooked.
    • While simmering, taste and adjust the seasoning by adding salt and ground black pepper (or any of the spices used).
    • Remove the pan from heat and transfer your lentils and rice to plates.
    • Drizzle with olive oil ---- and serve!

    Notes

    • Cook's Tip: No need to simmer the lentils for a long time when cooking pre-cooked ones.
    • Refer to the post above for more tips and substitutions.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 440mg | Potassium: 856mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3519IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 4mg

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