No Time to Cook Beans? Try This Quick-Cooking Alternative Instead

Beans are a healthy addition to almost any diet. Full of fiber and nutrients, they're great to keep stocked in your pantry. They're easy to toss in a variety of dishes, from soups to salads, and they help fight inflammation, a leading cause of chronic disease.

But if you're short on time, or just don't have the energy to commit to several hours of cooking dried beans, there's an easy (and delicious alternative) with similar nutritional benefits that cooks up quickly: red lentils.

What Do Red Lentils Taste Like?

Red lentils have a neutral flavor with a mild hint of sweetness and nuttiness. Because of this, they're easy to serve in a range of recipes without changing the taste too much. In other words, they're highly adaptable.

Red lentils have a bright orange-ish hue, making them stand out from other legume varieties, which are often brown, cream, or green.

Different Types of Red Lentils

Red lentils can be purchased whole, whole without the skin, or split. The most common type you'll see in grocery stores is whole red lentils without the skin, also sometimes referred to as "red football lentils" or "masoor gota."

You can also easily find split red lentils, commonly labeled as just "split lentils" or "masoor dal." The main differences between these two is taste and texture, with whole lentils staying a little more firm and taking longer to cook, while split red lentils break down easily when cooking and are done quickly.

How to Cook Red Lentils

Whole Red Lentils

1. Place 1 cup of whole lentils into a strainer, picking out any shriveled lentils or debris like stones. Thoroughly rinse under cold running water.
2. In a pot, stir together 3 cups of liquid (use water, broth, etc.) and the cleaned lentils. Add any desired seasonings, except salt, and bring to a boil.
3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Allow the lentils to simmer until just tender, but not falling apart, about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Strain the cooked lentils, return to the pot, and salt to taste.

Split Red Lentils

1. Place 1 cup of split lentils into a strainer, picking out any shriveled lentils or debris like stones. Thoroughly rinse under cold running water.
2. In a pot, stir together 1 1/2 cups of liquid (use water, broth, etc.) and the cleaned lentils. Add any desired seasonings, except salt, and bring to a boil.
3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Allow the lentils to simmer until tender and falling apart, about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Remove the pot from the heat and salt to taste.

Best Ways to Use Red Lentils

Since whole red lentils keep their shape better, they can be swapped in for beans in some of your favorite recipes. Whole lentils are ideal for dishes like veggie burgers, cold salads, stuffed tacos, or even grain casseroles.

Split red lentils on the other hand break down to almost a purée when cooked, lending them to dishes such as pasta sauces, chilis, dal, and soups.

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• 18 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Red Lentils
• How to Cook Lentils Perfectly Every Time
• 25 Tasty Ways to Start Eating More Lentils