What can you make with lentils for dinner?
You have lentils in the cupboard, but the useful decision is what kind of main course they can become. In these dishes, lentils bring body, protein and a steady, savoury base: they can thicken a soup, stand in for mince, or absorb the flavours of a spiced sauce. That matters when two people are choosing dinner, because the best option is one that suits both appetites and leaves a sensible next step for tomorrow.
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These 12 lentil main courses cover different levels of effort and different kinds of meal. Choose a casserole or bake when you want one shared dish, dhal or tacos when you want strong seasoning and flexible portions, or burgers and latkes when the lentils need to feel less like a stew.
What do lentils add to a main course?
Lentils add substance without needing to be treated as a side dish. They absorb stock, spices and cooking juices, which lets them thicken soups and sauces while adding protein and fibre. In tacos, burgers and latkes, they can replace or stretch minced meat; in casseroles and bakes, they provide the hearty centre of the meal.
Which lentil main course is best when two people want different portions?
Choose something that can be served in adjustable amounts or paired with separate toppings. Lentil tacos work well because each person can fill their own shells, while dhal can be portioned with different amounts of rice and sides. A soup or casserole is less flexible, but leftovers usually reheat well, so the larger appetite can be covered without cooking a second meal.
How should I plan lentil dishes across a week?
Avoid scheduling several soft, spoonable meals in a row. Follow a soup, dhal or casserole with a lentil dish that changes the texture, such as tacos, burgers or latkes, and use rice, bread, potatoes or salad to make the meals feel distinct. If you cook for two, check whether the recipe makes leftovers before adding another lentil meal to the plan.
Updated: · About Nomme
Recipes from USDA MyPlate (public domain) and NHS Healthier Families (Crown copyright). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.