Basic Method for Cooking Lentils

Name: Basic Method for Cooking Lentils
Yield: Makes 6 Servings
Ingredients: Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 3½ cups cold water; 1½ cups (about 12 ounces) raw lentils, picked over; 1 small onion, peeled; 1 sprig fresh thyme or ¼ teaspoon dried; 1 bay leaf

Preparation info

Makes
6
Servings

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Get in There and Cook

By Richard Sax

Published 1997

About

DePuy lentils from France, now available in specialty food shops, are particularly good. You may have to adjust their cooking time slightly.

Ingredients

1½ cups (about 12 ounces) raw lentils, picked over
1 small onion, peeled
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Main course
Side dish
Vegan
Gluten-free

Method

Place the lentils in a saucepan with the onion, thyme, bay leaf, and water. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat so that the water boils gently. Cook, covered, until the lentils are tender but not mushy, 30 to 40 minutes (the timing can vary).
Drain the lentils; discard the liquid and aromatics (onion, thyme sprigs, bay leaf). Season the lentils with salt