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.
Sarah
Yum! This sounds great! I always poach my eggs by draining them in a strainer first. They’d be great with lentils!
Homemade & Yummy
This is a nutritious and delicious “meatless” meal.
Lisa | Tiny Kitchen Capers
Two of my favorites in one dish! I need this in my meatless repertoire!
Homemade & Yummy
Enjoy…we sure do. Perfect for meatless Monday.
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen
Lentils are such a great meat substitute and those eggs look perfect!! I try to eat lentils at least once a week, will def give this recipe a go, it sounds full of flavor!
Homemade & Yummy
You can season this up and add as much flavour as you like.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I love this idea and you are right about lentils, they really are very meaty and satisfying too. I am definitely trying your poached eggs too!
Homemade & Yummy
This is such a great “meatless” meal that totally satisfies.
Ellie
This looks so good! I just had my dinner and I’m hungry again! 😉
Homemade & Yummy
Well hope you give it a try one day.
Jennifer
This dish looks fabulous and a great addition to any “meatless Monday”! I’m going to have to try this dish out!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is perfect for meatless Monday’s.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
I love poached eggs! This is just the breakfast I was looking for!
Homemade & Yummy
We love having this for brunch on the weekends and as “breakfast for dinner” during the week too.
Veena Azmanov
I love lentils and this looks like my kinda hash, I love poached eggs and this would be perfect weekend brunch for us. Saving this for later.
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…we sure do.
Colleen
What a delicious looking recipe! This is exactly the way I like to poach eggs, except we do 4 minutes so the yolks are just a little bit thicker. But heating them in the oven is something I’ve never tried, and must!
Homemade & Yummy
I know…it worked like a charm.
Dorothy at Shockinglydelish
This method for poaching is great. I think a pached egg is the perfect topper for this hash!
Homemade & Yummy
This is a great, satisfying meal for sure.
Denise Wright
I love colorful healthy recipes like this… especially this time of year. I’ve never poached an egg but you have inspired me to try it!
Homemade & Yummy
Give it a try….they are so delicious.
Derek
I’ve never even thought to use lentils in a breakfast dish, that’s a great idea! Those poached eggs look perfect as well!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. We love this dish.
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
uhmahgah I can’t believe you heated them in the oven!!! I think of poached eggs as so fragile, guess they can take more than I give them credit for. And I’m a fool for lentils so this recipe needs to happen!
Homemade & Yummy
I know it totally worked!!
Tiffany Alexandria
I love your photos… and LENTILS!!! This is the perfect breakfast, we often have lentils for breakfast but never had it like this! We’ll try it tomorrow 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. Lentils are so awesome.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
Love everything about this recipe. I haven’t made poached eggs in a while so need to try this since it sounds pretty easy. I tend to like spicy food as well so this recipe is definitely calling my name 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
You can make this as spicy as you like.
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
What a healthy way to start the day! I can’t wait to try this!
Homemade & Yummy
We love it for dinner too.