how long to cook lentils in instant pot

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Here'south how to cook Instant Pot lentils – whether you're cooking red or light-green lentils, they're so piece of cake to make in the pressure cooker!

Instant Pot Lentils

Ingredients in this recipe

You don't need many ingredients at all to brand lentils in your Instant Pot! Hither's what you need:

olive oil
vegetable broth
dry green, black or brown lentils (not canned)
salt

Instant Pot Lentils

How to cook lentils in the Instant Pot

Add olive oil to bottom of Instant Pot.
Add broth and lentils. Shake salt overtop of lentils, and then force per unit area cook for 10 minutes.
Do a quick release of the pressure.
Gently stir, then serve and enjoy!

Instant Pot Lentils

Using greenish vs red lentils

At that place are some very distinct differences between greenish and red lentils that might aid you cull what type you want to prepare.

Light-green lentils have a more robust, slightly peppery flavor. Though they take longer to cook than red lentils, they will continue their shape and texture. They are best for adding a plant-based poly peptide to salads and other side dishes.

Cherry-red lentils are sweeter and nuttier than green lentils. They take less time to cook than greenish lentils only they break downwards no matter how long you cook them. They are the best lentils to utilize for Indian dals or to thicken soups.

Ingredient substitutions

Olive oil – Employ any type of light-flavored oil or omit it if you don't desire the added calories.
Vegetable broth – You can substitute chicken or beef goop or stock if you are not making a vegetarian dish with the lentils. Plain water will also work if y'all have no other goop on manus.
Dry lentils – Brown, black, and green lentils all cook for the same amount of time in the recipe beneath and then you can use whatever type you lot prefer. Be sure to follow the notes in the recipe below if you choose to apply red lentils.
Salt– Table salt helps bring out the flavors of the lentils. Go out out the table salt if you prefer or add it after the lentils are cooked. For a little extra flavor, add a minced clove of garlic or chopped fresh herbs to the pot before cooking.

Instant Pot Lentils

Do lentils have to be soaked before using?

One of the (many!) benefits of cooking lentils in a force per unit area cooker is that you don't have to soak them! You can if y'all'd like simply it'south a matter of personal preference.

Serving suggestions

At present that you have a protein-packed pot full of perfectly cooked lentils, what tin you do with them?

Use them instead of blackness beans in these Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.
Add some actress protein to soups like this Cabbage Soup.
Supersede footing meat with an equal amount of lentils in recipes like Taco-Stuffed Avocados.
Mix and match them with other vegan proteins in these Buddha Bowls or these Piece of cake Quinoa Salads.
Mash upwards 1 ½ cups of the lentils to supercede the garbanzo beans in these Freezer Wraps.
Use leftover lentils and veggies that you lot have already cooked for this yummy Lentil Veggie Burger from Veggies Don't Bite.

Instant Pot Lentils

Storing and reheating

Be sure to air-condition any lentils you don't use inside 2 hours. You can go on cooked lentils in the fridge for upwards to a week in an air-tight container or plastic storage bag.

To reheat them, add together the corporeality you demand directly to any sauce or soup y'all are cooking or reheat thoroughly in the microwave.

Freezing cooked lentils

It'southward easy to add together lentils to any meal when you accept them gear up to go in the freezer.

To avoid reheating a big lump of lentils, spread the cooked lentils out on a baking sheet and let them freeze completely for about 2 hours. Shop them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.

Instant Pot Lentils

More Instant Pot vegetarian recipes

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Best, Creamiest Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Black Bean Soup

Meal prep tools for this recipe

Catch some glass repast prep bowls if you lot programme on storing the leftovers

5-Twenty-four hours Instant Pot Challenge!

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Instant Pot Lentils

one tbsp olive oil
iii cups vegetable broth
2 cups dry out green, black or brown lentils
1/two tsp salt

Add olive oil to Instant Pot, followed past broth and lentils. Shake salt overtop of lentils. Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is prepare to seal.
Press the pressure melt button and ready to loftier, then melt for 10 minutes. Instant Pot will have about 5-10 minutes to come to pressure and so pressure level cook for x minutes.
Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when force per unit area gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily.
Gently stir, then serve and relish!

NOTE: You tin apply scarlet lentils, simply cut the cook time in one-half to just 5 minutes and follow with a quick release equally usual.

Here's how to cook Instant Pot lentils - whether you're cooking red or green lentils, they're so easy to make in the pressure cooker! #instantpot #lentils