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.
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.
Danielle
I can’t imagine a better morning than the one that starts with poached eggs. There is just nothing better to make for breakfast than these yummies. In fact, any time of the day actually. Super excited to give this hash a try now!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I do love poached eggs. Something about that runny yolk is so delicious. ENJOY!
Sharon
This egg dish is healthy and a great way to start the day or even for brunch on the weekends.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
We love it for dinner…hope you give it at try.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Oh, Gloria, this hash looks positively amazing! I LOVE a poached egg on just about anything and I’m LOVING that you put it over lentil hash. This is perfect honestly any time of the day. I’m thinking of brunch tomorrow!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…we love this for dinner.
Denise
Your Lentil Hash looks delicious with the poached eggs. What a delicious breakfast.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
It makes a great dinner too.
Anna
Oh yes! This is my kinda meal! I absolutely LOVE poached eggs, my favourite way to have them! And I will happily eat this for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I agree. This is one of those meals that works all day long. Hope you give it a try.
Amy @ Two Healthy Kitchens
This looks so delicious! My family has been trying to eat less meat recently, and I have a lot of vegetarian friends who would love this recipe! I love that it is still hearty and protein-packed, even without any meat. 🙂
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Lentils are the perfect meat alternative. This is super hearty, even meat-eaters will love it.
Chef Dennis
This Poached Eggs & Lentil Hash looks really healthy-licious and satisfying to eat! Ilove that it’s packed with veggies, which our body really needs especially nowadays. I want to try that black beluga lentils, too!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Black lentils are super hearty. They keep their shape and work so well in this delicious dish. ENJOY!
Sean@Diversivore
I love a good poach egg dish, and I think lentils are a fantastic accompaniment! I can just picture a nice runny egg yolk breaking into the lentils too – such a great way to add a rich, unctuous element to pulses. Wonderful idea, and nice and easy to boot. Cheers!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is a fav around here. Perfect for any meal of the day. Poached eggs are so good.
Kelly Anthony
What a great healthy breakfast option for the whole family. We love anything with a perfectly poached egg on top.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
We love this for dinner too. ENJOY!
Haley D Williams
Wow! I love this! Great brunch for this weekend! Going be saved for this weekend!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Hope your family loves this as much as we do.
Beth Neels
Wow! this looks so delicious! And I can’t believe how perfect your poached eggs are!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is such a great recipe…hope you give it a try.
Pam
What a beautiful dish! I am so in agreement with you that healthy need not be boring – that makes it so much easier to eat food that is good for you and your family.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This really is a healthy, hearty and nutritious meal. A win all the way around for sure.
Stephen Rhodes
I am a true carnivore, but a meal like this could make me reconsider! A wonderful recipe. Thank you!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is a great meatless meal….hope you give it a try.
Lisa
Oh, wow! I love “hash” and I adore lentils, so this is a great idea. I happen to have a bag of black lentils in my pantry right now, so I’m definitely going to make this for dinner sometime this week. Wow! Love your tips on poaching eggs, too. I have those little silicone egg poachers and while they work — my cups always get flooded with water. Better to just poach them directly in the water. That swirly method with vinegar has always worked for me, but your tip on making them for a crowd and reheating is stellar! I’m doing that for our next brunch party!
Homemade & Yummy
We love having this dish for dinner too. So hearty….and the black lentils are fantastic. Yes the eggs really do heat up well. Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do.
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much for including my recipe in this roundup up. I have shared your post.