Meatless doesn’t mean unsatisfying. Poached Eggs & Lentil Hash is so hearty you won’t miss the meat I promise!
Lentils and eggs create a protein-packed meal for breakfast, brunch or dinner. Meatless and gluten-free too. You could even call this a lentil and egg stew.
Have you tried lentils for breakfast? What a great idea. Foolproof poached eggs are easier than you think. Keep reading for all the ways to poach an egg.
Most households try to incorporate healthy eating into the meal plan a few times a week (or more). Our house is no exception. However, boring food is not an option. It can be healthy, but it has to be tasty too.
We love incorporating meatless meals into our rotation. Quinoa stuffed peppers are a favourite around here. Sardine Pasta is another quick and easy recipe.
When comfort food season is here, this vegetable barley lentil soup is a hit in our house. Homemade soup is the best!
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for lentils and eggs are at the bottom of this post.
Eggs are a great way to pack in some protein. We always have hard-boiled eggs in the fridge for snacking. Ready to whip up some devilled eggs or an egg salad wrap.
Have you ever tried Pickled Eggs? By far the most popular post on my blog.
This Lentils With Eggs Recipe Needs:
In this poached egg recipe, I have combined cooked lentils and lots of veggies to create a hearty, delicious meal. If you are looking to cut down on meat, this is the perfect place to start.
- lentils (pre-cooked or canned)
- onion
- bell pepper
- fresh tomatoes
- mushrooms
- spinach
- oil
- Sriracha sauce
- All-purpose seasoning
- salt & pepper
- parsley
- eggs
If you do not want to cook dry lentils, no problem. Feel free to use canned lentils for this recipe.
Lentils are so versatile and budget-friendly too. We enjoy them in so many delicious ways.
Spicy Beluga Pasta Sauce is the perfect meatless sauce made with black beluga lentils. They are also known as caviar lentils. Less common than the traditional red, yellow and green lentils. They retain their shape when cooked, and remain on the firmer side.
Green lentils or puy lentils are another variety. This Puy Lentil Recipe is delicious over spaghetti squash. They work great in Green Lentil Cream Cheese Balls too. A fun and healthy appetizer.
Red lentils are the perfect meat substitute in this vegetarian tourtiere recipe.
In fact, marinated lentils are perfect with these varieties as well. Budget-friendly, versatile and easy to make. Meatless recipes with endless opportunities.
Making Poached Eggs and Lentil Hash
Parts of this recipe can be made ahead of time.
If you are using canned lentils, they are already cooked. If you are using dry lentils, you will have to cook them before adding them to the recipe. Check package directions. They can be prepared up to a few days ahead of time and kept in the fridge till ready to use.
Preparing The Hash
Complete instructions are in the recipe card.
- Pre-cook lentils (or use canned, be sure to rinse and drain).
- Dice up all the veggies and set them aside.
- Heat oil in a heavy skillet.
- Add onions and seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add peppers, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and tomatoes, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Add lentils and Sriracha, and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add spinach and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with poached eggs, garnish parsley and enjoy.
Easiest Way To Poach An Egg
Do you have a favourtie way of making poached eggs? I have tried all kinds of poached egg procedures.
- sous vide method
- egg poacher cups
- electric egg poacher
- poached eggs with cling film (see below)
- muffin tin poached eggs
- in a pot of water with/without vinegar (like I used)
- air fryer method
Since there are so many ways to make that perfect egg, I will let you decide on which method you prefer.
To make these easy poached eggs I used the simple method of a pot and simmering water. No vinegar, no swirling, no “secret” technique. These were the best poached eggs I have ever made.
- Get a pot of water to boiling
- Turn down the heat to just above a simmer.
- Gently drop each egg into the water (I like to break them into a small dish first).
- DO NOT swirl or touch the eggs.
- Simmer for about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-covered plate to drain.
If you prefer, I have also tried the Jamie Oliver cling film method:
- Place a piece of film over a cup and cover with cooking spray.
- Break the egg onto the film.
- Gather the edges, squeeze out the air, and twist to secure and tie into a knot.
- Repeat for ALL the eggs you wish to cook.
- Place the egg bundles into a pot of boiling water.
- Simmer the eggs until they reach your desired level of perfection.
- Remove from water and unwrap.
- Cold eggs will take longer to cook than room temperature eggs.
- The size of the egg will also determine the cooking time.
- Typically a large egg will cook in 4-5 minutes for a soft-firm texture.
Can you reheat a poached egg? Yes! They are best consumed immediately, but you can store them in the fridge and reheat them.
Simply remove from the fridge, and place in a pot of hot water to heat.
You can also reheat them in the oven. Carefully place eggs on a greased baking dish, covered with foil, and place in a moderate oven (300º F) for about 10 minutes. Worked like a charm.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
Lentils – cook from scratch or use canned.
Vegetables – mix this up and use whatever you like. Kale is a great alternative to spinach.
Seasoning – don’t like spicy? Use any seasoning you wish. Greek, Italian, Mexican, they all work.
Storage – I would keep the cooked poached eggs separate from the hash. The hash part of this lentil recipe will certainly last 2-3 days in the fridge. I personally would not keep any extra poached eggs.
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More main dish egg recipes to try:
- Egg Muffin Baked Omelette
- Egg Tacos with Smoked Salmon
- Bacon and Egg Breakfast Biscuits
- Garlic Rice with Fried Egg
- Classic Eggs Benedict
- Spicy Tomato Egg Skillet
Poached Eggs and Lentils
Ingredients
- 3 cups lentils (pre-cooked or canned)
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (diced)
- 4 tomatoes (diced)
- 2 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 ½ cups baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon all purpose seasoning
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- parsley (for garnish)
- 8 eggs (poached)
Instructions
- Pre-cook your lentils (this can be done a day or two in advance). If you are using canned lentils, be sure to drain and rinse throughly before using.
- Heat oil in heavy skillet.
- Add onions and all-purpose seasoning. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add peppers and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add lentils and sriracha, cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add spinach and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with poached eggs. (Cooked however you like)
- Garnish with parsley.
Traci
Well this might just become my new favorite Saturday breakfast treat! I absolutely cannot wait to make this treat…and devour it! Thank you for sharing and I will be sharing it as well 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. Enjoy!!
Shashi at SavorySpin
I love eggs and your poached ones look fantastic! I also happen to love your idea of serving them with lentils – this would be a welcome treat for breakfast/dinner in our home! Thanks so much for the recipe inspiration!
Homemade & Yummy
It sure makes a great dinner in this house too. In fact we are having the leftovers tonight!!
Albert Bevia
This is like all my favorite ingredients placed into one pot, I am so making this…thanks for the recipe 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Enjoy…we sure do.
Emely @theblushfig.com
Wow, this looks sooo good. I love lentils, they are so nutritious. I love the addition of the poached eggs, very appetizing and healthy!
Homemade & Yummy
This really is a healthy dish for sure.
Jolina
This looks amazing Gloria! We’ve been trying to add more ancient grains and legumes into our diet and this is a great way to do it. PS: we’re lazy, we poach eggs in the microwave most days lol.
Homemade & Yummy
HAHHA…I have tried poaching eggs ALL ways believe me.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
Poached eggs have always been a family favorite. Hubby always liked to put them on crushed saltine crackers. My favorite was on an English Muffin. Now it’s really interesting putting the eggs on top of the lentils. A great meatless meal.
Homemade & Yummy
Yup…we love these lentils. They really hold their shape in this recipe.
Patty
I love poached eggs but haven’t tried to make any yet, kind of intimidated, thanks for the link to the video, I shall try to make my own and pair them with this delicious hash!
Homemade & Yummy
It’s not as scary as you may think. Give it a try….the worst that can happen is they don’t turn out perfectly….but you will still be able to eat them.
The Food Hunter
Adding this to my must make soon list.
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do.
Catherine Brown
Lentil Hash! I’ve never seen that before. I love the Beluga lentils, they hold their shape so well – perfect for salads… and HASH! It’s been forever since I poached an egg too, so I need to try this. Nice photos! 😉
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. This is such a hearty and heart healthy meal….you would never miss the meat.
Edoardo
I am an egg lover, and I try to avoid meat choosing different protein sources like lentils, so this recipe has to be inserted into my brunch menù!
Homemade & Yummy
Well even meat lovers will not miss meat in this recipe. ENJOY!!
Veena Azmanov
I love poached eggs and and I love black lentils. This sounds so yum. Can’t wait to try Gloria.
Homemade & Yummy
This is such a delicious and nutritious meal…and so hearty too.
Laura | Wandercooks
I love lentils but don’t really cook with them all that often. Really looking forward to trying this recipe and using that technique to poach the eggs. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Chef G
You are welcome…we just had this for dinner last night.
Wajeeha
This is such a unique and healthy combination! Sounds delicious
Chef G
We love it, in fact I am making it again this week!!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
This looks delicious! I love all the veggies, and especially the lentils. I also can’t wait to try this great way to make poached eggs – it really is genius! Great dish.
Chef G
Yes the poached eggs are so easy to make for a crowd that way.
Stephanie Huston
Thank you for linking to that poached egg video! That is the greatest trick ever!
Chef G
You are very welcome, thanks for stopping by!!