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Home » Recipes » Lentil & Beans

Instant Pot Lentils

Dec 4, 2022. by Bhavana Patil. No Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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A recipe for how to cook perfect (Brown or Green) Lentils every time using the Instant pot pressure cooker. Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein and are delicious. Vegan and Gluten-free.

cooked instant pot brown lentils served in a bowl with instant pot on the side

Cooking lentils is so much easier in the Instant pot pressure cooker. A hands-free cooking process with no soaking lentils in advance. Just put them in liquid, pressure cook, and you get perfectly cooked lentils. These lentils hold their shape when cooked, making them perfect in salads, bowls, tacos, etc.

You can substitute water with vegetable broth and add some seasonings to make the lentils more flavorful.

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT. You can use any equivalent electric pressure cooker like Mealthy Multipot.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Instant Pot Lentils Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to Cook Brown Lentils in Instant Pot
  • How to Cook Brown Lentils on the Stovetop?
  • How to Serve these Lentils?
  • Storage Suggestions
  • Tips to make the Best Instant Pot Lentils
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Instant Pot Basic Recipes
  • More Instant Pot Lentil Recipes
  • Instant Pot Lentils

Why You'll Love This Instant Pot Lentils Recipe

  • Quick and easy to cook.
  • Wholesome, filling, and packed with flavors
  • No-soaking
  • Can be made ahead of time
  • Budget-friendly
  • Vegan, Vegetarian, and gluten-free

Ingredients

  • Lentils: I used brown lentils in this recipe. You can also use green lentils, or French green lentils, as they can hold their shape after cooking and are flavorful. You can easily find them in your local stores in the USA. Note: At Indian grocery stores, you will find brown lentils in the name of "Whole Masoor Dal". They have a greenish-brown color.
  • Water (or vegetable broth): for cooking lentils. To add more flavor, substitute water with vegetable broth.
  • Seasonings: Add salt and freshly ground black pepper as per taste. You can also add other seasonings like bay leaves, cumin seeds, fresh or dried herbs, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, as per your preference.
pressure cooker lentils ingredients

How to Cook Brown Lentils in Instant Pot

Rinse brown lentils under water 1-2 times to remove any dust or debris, and drain.

Add rinsed brown lentils, water (or vegetable broth), salt, pepper, and bay leaf, in the instant pot insert.

step to add rinsed lentils with water collage

Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 6 to 8 minutes for al dente lentils or 10 to 12 minutes for softer lentils.

When the Instant Pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid for al dente lentils.

perfectly cooked brown lentils in a ladle collage

Enjoy immediately in salads, bowl, etc.

instant pot perfectly cooked  lentils in a white bowl garnished with coriander leaves

How to Cook Brown Lentils on the Stovetop?

  • In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of rinsed lentils with 3 cups of water. Add seasonings of your choice.
  • Bring the liquid to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-22 minutes or until the lentils are al dente. For softer lentils, cook for 30-35 minutes.
  • Once done, drain the lentils. Adjust the seasoning at this stage. Enjoy.

How to Serve these Lentils?

Lentils can be served in salads, grain bowls, tacos, and wraps. They can also be used to make soups, curries, or lentil burgers.

Storage Suggestions

  • Store: You can store the leftovers, in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
  • Freeze: You can freeze the leftovers in a freezer-safe container or ziplock for up to 2 months. Make sure to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Reheat: You can sprinkle some water and reheat these on the stovetop pot or the microwave until warm.

Tips to make the Best Instant Pot Lentils

  • Water: Lentil Ratio - Using the correct water-to-lentil ratio and cooking time makes the perfect tender lentils. For a firmer texture, cook for 6-8 minutes, and softer texture, cook for up to 10-12 minutes. 
  • No Soaking: There is no need to soak the lentils, but you should rinse them off to remove the dust.
  • Vegetable Broth - To add more flavor to the lentils, cook lentils with vegetable broth instead of water.
  • Herbs - Fresh herbs like coriander leaves or parsley sprinkled over the cooked lentils taste delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of lentils?

There are different kinds of lentils available in the market. Some of the common types of lentils are
Whole brown lentil
Green lentil
French green 
Black beluga 
Ley puy green lentil
Red lentil
Yellow lentils

Do you have to rinse lentils before cooking?

Yes, it is recommended to rinse the lentils before cooking to remove any dust or debris.

Do you have to soak Lentils before cooking them?

You don't have to soak the lentils like other beans/pulses when making them in the Instant Pot. Make sure to rinse them to remove dust or debris before cooking.

How to cook brown lentils in a slow cooker or crockpot?

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker or crockpot with an extra cup of water and set it to high for three hours or low for six hours. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours. Time depends on your slow cooker brand, as not all cook at the same temperature.

How much does 1 Cup of dried lentils make? 

1 cup of dried brown lentils yields about 2 to 2 ½ cups of cooked lentils. It is about 4 servings.

More Instant Pot Basic Recipes

  • Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
  • Instant Pot Sona Masoori Rice
  • Instant Pot Calrose Rice
  • Instant Pot Chickpeas
  • Instant Pot Quinoa
  • Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables
  • Instant Pot Wild Rice

More Instant Pot Lentil Recipes

  • Brown Lentil Dal - Dal cooked with whole masoor dal.
  • Whole Green Moong dal – Dal cooked with whole mung beans.
  • Green Lentil Soup – Lentil soup is made with green lentils, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and Indian spices.
  • Masoor Dal - Dal made with split red lentils.
  • Spinach Dal / Palak Dal – Dhal cooked with spinach leaves.
  • Butternut Squash Dal - Dal cooked with butternut squash or pumpkin.

If you’ve tried this easy Instant pot brown lentils recipe or any other recipe on Indianveggiedelight, then don’t forget to rate the recipe. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest recipes!

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instant pot perfectly cooked lentils in a white bowl garnished with coriander leaves

Instant Pot Lentils

Bhavana Patil
Learn how to cook perfect (Brown or Green) Lentils every time using the Instant pot pressure cooker. Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein and are delicious.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 4
Calories : 170
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
Cook Time : 20 minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dried brown lentils (or green lentils)
  • 1 ¾ cups water (or vegetable broth)
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf optional

Instructions
 

  • Rinse brown lentils under water 1-2 times to remove any dust or debris, and drain.

Instant Pot Method

  • Add rinsed brown lentils, water (or vegetable broth), salt, pepper, and bay leaf, in the instant pot insert.
    step to add rinsed lentils with water collage
  • Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 6 to 8 minutes for al dente lentils or 10 to 12 minutes for softer lentils.
  • When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid for al dente lentils.
    perfectly cooked brown lentils in a ladle collage
  • Enjoy immediately in salads, bowl, etc.
    instant pot perfectly cooked lentils in a white bowl garnished with coriander leaves

Stovetop Pot Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of rinsed lentils with 3 cups of water. Add seasonings of your choice.
  • Bring the liquid to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-22 minutes or until the lentils are al dente. For softer lentils, cook for 30-35 minutes.
  • Once done, drain the lentils. Adjust the seasonings at this stage. Enjoy.

Notes

Tips to make the Best Instant Pot Lentils

  • Water: Lentil Ratio - Using the correct water-to-lentil ratio and cooking time makes the perfect tender lentils. For a firmer texture, cook for 6-8 minutes, and softer texture, cook for up to 10-12 minutes. 
  • No Soaking: There is no need to soak the lentils, but you should rinse them off to remove the dust.
  • Vegetable Broth - To add more flavor to the lentils, cook lentils with vegetable broth instead of water.
  • Herbs - Fresh herbs like coriander leaves or parsley sprinkled over the cooked lentils taste delicious.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 12gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 459mgFiber: 15gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 4mg
Keyword how to cook lentils in instant pot, instant pot brown lentils, instant pot lentils
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