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    Home » Recipes

    Basic Marinated Lentils (Budget-Friendly)

    February 2, 2021 *Updated* February 2, 2021 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 18 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure Policy.
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    Do you love cooking with lentils? I sure do. This Marinated Lentils recipe is just what you need to help out with increasing grocery costs. Perfect for batch cooking, so it saves you time in the kitchen too.

    Warm lentils soak up the simple oil and vinegar dressing. This precooked lentil recipe can be eaten hot or cold. Added to soups, salads, sandwiches and more. Bonus, they keep for days in the fridge.

    Marinated Lentils in a glass bowl ready for storage

    Packed with protein, and great for plant-based eating. Lots of people are jumping on this bandwagon. And why not? With all the health benefits, there are endless ways of incorporating lentils into your diet.

    A measuring cup of dry lentils ready to cook

    I have always been a fan of having some meatless meals during the week. Yes, we do love our steaks, chicken, lamb, and all the other delicious meats. However, eating meat on a daily basis is not the healthiest (or cheapest) option. With so many people struggling to make ends meet, lentils are a great meat alternative.

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    RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these versatile marinated lentils can be found at the bottom of this post.

    In fact, this vegan tourtiere recipe is a hit during the holidays. If you know anything about the history of this classic dish, it’s all about the meat. Yes you can have a meatless tourtiere.

    Meat marinades bring so much flavour to a recipe. The same works for vegetables. Why not make a marinade to bring dry lentils to a whole new level? Yum! Believe me, you really need to try this recipe.

    You Will Need:

    • dried green lentils
    • salt
    • white balsamic vinegar (rice wine or red wine vinegar works well also)
    • olive oil
    • black pepper

    Types Of Lentils

    Did you know they are also called pulses? They are part of the legume family, which are plants that grow in pods. So we eat the dry seed within that pod.

    There are several types that would work well in this recipe. You want to use a variety that holds firm after cooking.

    3 types of lentils, green, black and French
    • Green Lentils (affiliate) have a slight peppery flavour. They are more robust than the brown variety and hold their shape well after cooking.
    • Puy or French Lentils (affiliate) Grown in the Puy region of central France. About one-third the size of the standard green variety. They hold their shape extremely well.
    • Black or Beluga Lentils (affiliate) They have a deep, earthy flavour and firm texture. They resemble the look of black caviar and are the most nutritious out of all the types.

    Any of the above varieties will work in this recipe. All of them have great nutritional benefits, and cooking with them is:

    • versatile
    • budget-friendly
    • a great meat alternative
    • vegan friendly
    • gluten-free

    Dried pulses can be stored at room temperature, in an air-tight container, for about 2 to 3 years. The best way to tell if they have spoiled is by smell and appearance. If they develop an off odor or appearance, or if mold or insects appear, they should be discarded.

    How To Marinate Lentils

    Perfect recipe for batch cooking. Make as much (or a little) as you like. This particular recipe yielded 16 ounces. See the recipe card for FULL instrucitons.

    A collage of how to cook lentils from scratch
    • rinse the lentils in cold water
    • place in a pot, bring to a boil then simmer until done (make sure they are firm like al dente pasta)
    • drain in a sieve (do not rinse)
    • place in a shallow dish to cool naturally
    Cooked green lentils cooling in a dish

    While they are cooking, prepare the marinade.

    Collage of making the marinade for the lentils
    • combine the oil and vinegar
    • add the salt and pepper
    • whisk and set aside

    Once the pulses are cooled (you still want them to be slightly warm) add the vinaigrette and mix thoroughly.

    Use in cold salads, added to soups, used in sandwiches or wraps. You can also add some things like feta cheese, marinated artichokes, or sun-dried tomatoes. This makes a great side dish for chicken, fish, or any meat.

    Serve immediately, or cover and marinate in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight. Stir well before serving.

    Common Cooking Mistakes

    • Buying OLD lentils. Buy the freshest possible. Older ones take much longer to cook and often shed their skins during cooking.
    • Forgetting to sift and rinse before cooking. Sometimes debris and small pebbles end up in the bag. You want to make sure you don’t end up with these in your recipe.
    • Forgetting to season. They are a blank canvas, and take on any flavour you add to them. You can also cook them in stock instead of water. Add herbs and spices to the water.
    • Overcooking. Don’t boil, use a gentle simmer until done.
    • Salt and acid should be added after cooking while pulses are still warm to absorb the flavours.

    How Long Will Lentils Last In the Fridge?

    Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    Can You Freeze Lentils Once They Are Cooked?

    You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag with the air pressed out for up to 6 months. Thaw them in the fridge, microwave, or place the bag in warm water. You can add them directly to warm dishes such as soup or stew.

    Lentils are marinated and ready to eat

    Looking For More Great Lentil Recipes?

    I happen to have a few for you to try.

    1. Lentil hash is perfect for brunch or dinner. Packed with protein, a great meatless meal for any day of the week.
    2. Puy lentil pasta sauce is hearty and delicious. This tomato free recipe uses goat cheese, and is perfect over spaghetti squash.
    3. Vegan mushroom pate is perfect on crackers, or as a sandwich filling.
    4. Mini cream cheese balls are a fun and tasty appetizer. Great for parties, or added to a charcuterie board.
    5. Beluga pasta sauce combines red wine and mushrooms. A dense spicy sauce perfect for any type of pasta.

    Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU. You will get a FREE PRINTABLE and recipes! FOLLOW ME on social media too.

    Marinated Lentils Pin
    Marinated Lentils in a glass bowl ready for storage

    Basic Marinated Lentils Recipe

    Made from scratch, dry lentils are cooked then marinated in a simple oil and vinegar dressing. Eaten hot or cold. Lasts for days in the fridge. Can be frozen, so perfect for batch cooking.
    5 from 37 votes
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    Course: Main Dish, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Canadian
    Keyword: Cooking with lentils
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Cooling Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 208kcal
    Author: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dry green lentils (sift through for debris)
    • 1 teaspoons salt
    • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (you can also use red wine, or rice vinegar)
    • 1 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ teaspoons black pepper
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    Cook The Lentils:

    • Get your amount of lentils in a measuring cup.
    • Place in a sieve and remove any debris.
    • Rinse under cold water until it runs clear.
    • Add them to a pot and cover with cold water (about 2 inches above the lentils).
    • Bring to a boil.
    • Reduce heat and simmer until done (do not over cook). This will take about 15-20 minutes.
    • Pour into a sieve, and drain the water. Do not rinse.
    • Place the cooked lentils in a shallow dish to cool naturally.

    Make The Marinade:

    • Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
    • Once the lentils are slightly cooled, add the marinade and mix thourghly.

    Store:

    • Store marinated lentils in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to use.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 471mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 4mg

    Notes

    In a hurry, green canned lentils would work in this recipe. 
    **NOTE** Cooking time on either the Puy or Black variety will be longer (usually around 40 minutes).
    Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy
    Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.

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    MEET THE AUTHOR

    Gloria Duggan is the author for Homemade & Yummy, where she creates fun and easy recipes. She is also a brand ambassador/influencer for well-known companies. Gloria has judged food competitions and has posted about local food events. Gloria's work has been featured in magazines, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts. Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nicole

      February 15, 2021 at 12:44 am

      I’m a huge fan of lentils and especially love them in salads. We try to eat meat-free a few times as week and we are always looking for new recipes to switch things up. Next time I make my warm lentil salad, I’ll have to try it these marinated lentils. And I bet these would be incredible on a sandwich or wrap too.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 15, 2021 at 8:55 am

        Yes marinated lentils are great in lots of ways. ENJOY!

    2. Jamie

      February 15, 2021 at 12:16 am

      I love the color of black lentils so used that for this recipe! It turned out delicious and I served it on the side with some chicken! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 15, 2021 at 8:55 am

        You are very welcome. So glad you enjoyed the recipe.

    3. Nicoletta and Loreto

      February 14, 2021 at 6:25 pm

      We love lentils and eat them very often but would have never thought of marinating them. What a great idea to store them and have them ready to use during the week! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 15, 2021 at 8:56 am

        I know, it really is a delicious them.

    4. Ramona

      February 14, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      This recipe looks really interesting and I need to try it out! It looks really delicious and I can’t wait to try it out.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 15, 2021 at 8:56 am

        Hope you give this recipe a try. Marinated lentils are so good.

    5. Alex

      February 14, 2021 at 1:59 pm

      This such a great staple recipe to have on hand. I LOVE lentils! Also – never knew that old lentils would take longer to cook. That’s a tip I’ll keep in mind for the future!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 15, 2021 at 8:57 am

        I totally agree, this is a great staple recipe for so many delicious meals.

    6. Uma

      February 12, 2021 at 3:15 pm

      This lentil will be good in salads and rice recipes too. I would love to add this in stir fry recipes too. looks yummy!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 13, 2021 at 1:38 pm

        Lentils are great in so many ways. Hope you give this recipe a try.

    7. Kathryn

      February 12, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      I’ve been super into lentils lately and I love the simple ingredients used in this recipe. I will be giving this a try and want to top it on a mixed green salad. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 13, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        This is a great lentil recipe for salads…and so much more. ENJOY!

    8. veenaazmanov

      February 12, 2021 at 3:05 am

      Healthy meals with all the nutrition and delicious dressing makes it perfect for healthy lifestyle.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 13, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        I agree, simple is best and totally delicious.

    9. Farrukh Aziz

      February 12, 2021 at 2:57 am

      This recipe seems so simple yet delicious! Lentils in our house is a family-favorite! A bowl of healthy lentils! Can’t wait to try this out!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        February 13, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        ENJOY….we use these marinated lentils in so many ways.

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