One pot lentils and rice

Packed with whole grains and legumes, this one pot lentil and rice is a healthy, easy side dish that’s packed with flavor! The lentils and rice cook together in one pot and feed a crowd.

Why we love lentils

We don’t want to be sensational here, but… lentils are a little secret. Packed with protein, fiber, iron, vitamins and minerals, these humble legumes can benefit our health at any age and stage. (Even babies love lentils!) And with a little care when preparing them, they taste great too!

We want our kids to eat All The Lentils. And with this delicious one-pot lentil rice recipe, they’ll want to eat All The Lentils, too.

This hearty side dish is almost as easy to prepare as rice. But here you get something very special. The diet is awesome. The texture is hearty but light. The broth and light herbs add depth and freshness.

Pair these lentils and rice with grilled chicken or fish and a green salad for a perfectly balanced and delicious family meal.

Are Lentils and Rice Good for You?

Here are the facts why we love serving this dish to our kids (and ourselves).

Just half a cup of lentils provides 9 grams of protein (more than an egg!), a third of our daily dietary fiber, and nearly half the daily recommended amount of folic acid.

Brown rice, true to its whole grain goodness, also provides plenty of fiber, along with minerals like manganese and selenium and B vitamins.

And can we talk about fresh herbs? Parsley and scallions are as powerful in nutrition as they are in flavor. These herbs are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Parsley helps support a healthy heart, liver, and immune system.

The short version: eat up! This site is super nutritious.

Ingredients needed for brown lentils and rice

• Brown rice – short-grain brown rice works best for this recipe
• lenses – French lentils are best. They are a variety of green lentils, but they are slightly darker and smaller.
• chicken soup
• butter – unsalted
• garnish – fresh parsley and spring onions

Tips for preparing the best lentils and rice

We tested this recipe extensively. Only “tested” isn’t the right word. Really we just kept doing itbecause it was so tasty every time and we just wanted to keep eating it. BUT in this process of making and re-making, we’ve learned a number of tips and tricks that will help ensure your lentils and rice turn out perfect. Here’s what we know:

• French lentils work best here. These are the small, greenish-brown marbled ones. They hold their shape better than ordinary green or brown lentils.
• Choose a real broth or broth with a flavor that you really like. Because you will like it. Homemade is great, but your favorite store brand works well too.
• Leave the lentils and rice alone while they cook. Stirring releases the starch into the broth and the whole mixture becomes sticky and less appetizing. Find a comfortable low simmer, cover the pot and let it be.
• Adjust the amount of liquid if necessary. A few variables can change how much broth you need to soften the lentils and rice. Add an extra sprinkle if it seems like the pot is going to dry halfway through cooking.
• Wait until the very end to add the herbs. You want them as fresh as possible. And don’t stir too hard
• If your kids are suspicious of the herbs, keep them in a bowl on the side. Each person at the table can add something they like or leave out if they don’t.
• Add tasty extras. This dish goes well with many flavors. Feel free to add what you have on hand like cooked chicken, beef, or roasted veggies.

What should you serve with lentils and rice?

This dish is incredibly versatile. The flavor of the lentils and the rice itself is so flexible that you can pair it with several different cuisines and nothing will look out of place. Here are a few simple example menu plans you could try:

• Grilled chicken, green salad, lentils and rice.
• Instant Pot Salmon, Steamed Carrots, Lentils and Rice.
• Indian butter chicken, roasted cauliflower, lentils and rice.
• Lentils and rice, fresh fruit salad and sautéed spinach.

More healthy sides