Brown rice and lentils is a delicious meal or easy side dish requiring only 5 ingredients and one pot. Healthy whole grains and legumes packed with protein and fiber and perfect for feeding a crowd.
It doesn’t get much easier, or healthier, than a basic lentil and rice recipe. This is one of my absolute favorites and you’re about to see why.
Lentils are a superfood, not to sound melodramatic, but it’s true. They may look like small beans to some, but these are some powerful little legumes. They’re loaded with protein, fiber, and super heart-healthy.
And, let’s not forget the rice. Yeah, it’s healthy but it’s also comfort food. So, when you add the two together you get an incredibly versatile recipe that’s savory, hearty, light, and so satisfying.
One final thing…this recipe is cheap. You can feed a crowd without breaking the bank and for a family the size of mine (I have 5 kids) that’s very important. So, stock your pantry and put this recipe on a regular weekly rotation.
Alright, that’s enough. It’ll take you longer to read this post than make the actual recipe. Let’s cook!
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s all you need for this easy recipe…
- Rice: whole grain brown rice or brown basmati rice are my favorites
- Lentils: use green lentils or brown lentils
- Onion: cooked onion not only adds flavor but an aromatic essence as well
- Garlic Powder: works perfectly with the onion
- Liquid: water or low-sodium vegetable broth can be used.
Instructions For Brown Rice and Lentils
- Preheat a medium saucepan or large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the onions are soft and begin to just turn brown.
- Add the rice, lentils, water or vegetable broth, and salt and pepper. Increase to medium-high heat. Bring everything to a boil then lower heat, cover, and simmer.
- Cook for 45 minutes or until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Keep in mind, depending on your appliance or cookware, the cook time may vary.
- Remove from the heat and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Although this recipe doesn’t call for it, toss in a bay leaf or two during the cooking process for adding an extra layer of depth and flavor.
How Do I Serve Brown Rice And Lentils
- Side Dish: Pair it with veggies like my Oven Roasted Asparagus with Tahini Sauce, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Sautéed Kale, Easy Maple Roasted Carrots, or Summer Squash Sauté.
- Main Dish: What makes this rice recipe different from others is how meaty and versatile it is. Top it with caramelized onions, my Tofu Sour Cream or Cashew Sour Cream, a little sprinkle of red pepper and it’s amazing. It’s very similar to Mjedra.
Top with some fresh veggies like sliced red cabbage, chopped bell pepper, sliced radishes, chopped green onion, or sliced carrots. It makes a simple, yet satisfying, spring or summer meal. The possibilities are endless.
FAQ and Helpful Tips
Use only brown lentils or green lentils because they are firm and meaty. Red lentils or yellow lentils are too soft and will turn to mush.
No, you can use white rice but there are a couple of things to remember. You should use long grain white rice and the cooking time will be reduced to 25 minutes. Yes, brown rice is better and healthier, but white rice is better than eating a pork chop.
Brown rice and lentils are great for batch cooking so you can meal prep for several days. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 7 days. Let everything cool to room temperature, cover, and store. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave.
Yes. Place all the ingredients into your Instant Pot, lock the lid, seal the valve. and set the cook time for 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off allow the Instant Pot to do a “Natural Release” for 15 minutes. Turn the valve to release any remaining steam, taste and season with salt and pepper, and serve warm.
Yes.
More Lentil and Rice Recipes
If you make this recipe I want to know. So, please leave a comment below with a star rating. And, be sure and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #shaneandsimple. I want to see your work. Enjoy!
Print
Brown Rice and Lentils
- Prep Time: 10 mins.
- Cook Time: 45 mins.
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Vegan Side Dish Recipes
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Brown rice and lentils is a delicious meal or easy side dish requiring only 5 ingredients and one pot. Healthy whole grains and legumes packed with protein and fiber and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 cup whole grain brown rice (brown basmati rice)
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat a medium saucepan or large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the onions are soft and begin to just turn brown.
- Add the rice, lentils, water (vegetable broth), and salt and pepper. Increase to medium-high heat. Bring everything to a boil then lower heat, cover, and simmer.
- Cook for 45 minutes or until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Keep in mind, depending on your appliance or cookware, the cook time may vary.
- Remove from the heat and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Side Dish: Pair it with veggies like my Oven Roasted Asparagus with Tahini Sauce, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Sautéed Kale, Easy Maple Roasted Carrots, or Summer Squash Sauté.
Main Dish: What makes this rice recipe different from others is how meaty and versatile it is. Top it with caramelized onions, my Tofu Sour Cream or Cashew Sour Cream, a little sprinkle of red pepper and it’s amazing. It’s very similar to Mjedra.
Top with some fresh veggies like sliced red cabbage, chopped bell pepper, sliced radishes, chopped green onion, or sliced carrots. It makes a simple, yet satisfying, spring or summer meal. The possibilities are endless
Keywords: brown rice and lentils, lentils and rice healthy, simple lentils and rice recipe, gluten-free
wah
please can u help me Shane?
u should be able to!
after all, u are known (in my house at least)
as Shane the shuper~duper shef!
now…
i really want to make this!
right now!
cos its RainyDay weather here in Australia
(& that dozen happen much)
but rainydays would be perfect for this recipe hey!?
but heres the prob.
i only have CANNED beans
and CANNED chickpeas.
got loads of RAW split peas (cos i love em in my crock pot!)
and a little box of RAW chick peas as well,
and a little box of RAW beans. pinto or kidney or something?
thats all.
any good?
could i make this with any of those do u think Sir?
instead of the raw brown lentils u suggested?
Any of those would work, but if using canned beans I would make the rice first then add the beans as they don’t need to be cooked. Enjoy!
Easy and great flavor. I went with the stove top method, added the bay leaf, and threw in a couple of carrots and two stalks of celery (needed to use them). This is a keeper!
So easy yet so good! I’ve found my go-to meal for a busy night. I threw some red pepper flakes and some of Shane’s Southwest Tahini Sauce (leftover from another recipe) on top. It was so good I didn’t need anything else to go with it. I feel guilty for not making a side but this was all I needed, seriously! Super filling and hearty, as well. Can’t wait to see what else it will go with…the possibilities seem endless.
So cheap, easy, healthy and fast!
I used 1 Tbs onion powder to make it even faster. I also followed the IP directions and it came out perfectly!
I was able to use up a few random bags of rice and lentils so win-win!
I plan on freezing a few portions.
This is a great recipe.. I topped with fresh veggies to compensate the weather here in Florida.. Delicious. Thanks for sharing.
This is a GREAT meal, Shane. This brings back lots of good and funny memories. I’ve been making it exactly like this for years, with the bay leaf. My family loves it. When my daughter was little, she called it “lentil crud”, 🤣 an unappealing name, but she requested it every week or two, even during high school and her picky-eater days. She even used to take it in her school lunch box and ate it at room temp. These days, she makes it regularly for her kids (and her boys still call it “lentil crud”). Love your ideas for toppings and sides; I’m going to try them. I plan to make a pot tomorrow. Thanks, Shane!
Brown rice and lentils is a delicious meal or easy side dish requiring only 5 ingredients and one pot. Healthy whole grains and legumes packed with protein and fiber and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Hearty and yummy!