Lentils are a small legume. They come from a bushy plant that is mostly grown in Canada, Turkey, and India. Lentils are a great source of plant-based nutrition, including protein, non-heme iron, folate, and magnesium.

What do lentils taste like?

Cooked lentils have a mild flavor, making them an excellent base of recipes. Depending on which type of lentil you use and how long you cook them, lentils can either have a firm texture or be quite mushy. I love using them to make Baked Lentil Burgers .

Do I need to add olive oil to the Instant Pot when cooking lentils?

Some people like to add some olive oil to the pot to prevent foaming. In my experience, lentils do not create that much foam so you do not need to add olive oil.

How do I cook brown lentils on the stovetop?

Rinse and drain the lentils in a fine-mesh sieve. Pick through the lentils to pick out any debris. Place the lentils in a medium saucepan. Add water to cover the lentils, plus about 2 inches. You will usually need 2 cups of cooking liquid for every 1 cup of lentils. You can use water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil and cook for 20-25 minute, or until the lentils are soft and most of the water has been absorbed.

Instant Pot Brown Lentils

Name: Instant Pot Brown Lentils
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed well and drained; 1 3/4 cup filtered water; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instant Pot Brown Lentils

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5 from 1 review

This recipe for Instant Pot Brown Lentils is so easy and versatile. Lentils are full of nutrition and a great source of plant-based protein. Use them in soups or salads, or make them into gluten-free lentil burgers.

Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed well and drained
1 3/4 cup filtered water
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Place the rinsed lentils and water in the base of a 6-quart pressure cooker. Add the salt and pepper.
Lock on the lid and set the time to 10 minutes at high pressure.
When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes. Then, use the quick-release to release any remaining pressure.
Serve the lentils hot or at room temperature.

Equipment

Instant Pot

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Notes

Store your cooked lentils in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze cooked lentils in a tightly-sealed container for up to 2 months.
You can feel free to add salt or other seasonings into the pot before you cook your lentils. It’s common to add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 of ground black pepper. It just depends on how you are going to use the cooked lentils.
Cooked lentils can also be made into a complete meal by adding cooked rice or cooked quinoa, plus a simple vinaigrette dressing. See my Copycat Costco Quinoa Salad for an actual recipe.

Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Basics
Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
Cuisine: Healthy
Diet: Vegan

Nutrition

Serving Size:
Calories: 169
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 296 mg
Fat: 0.5 g
Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
Carbohydrates: 30.5 g
Fiber: 5.2 g
Protein: 11.8 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Find it online: https://www.cleaneatingkitchen.com/instant-pot-brown-lentils/