Irresistible Creamy Marry Me Lentils (Printable)

Comforting lentils in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with herbs, ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Lentils & Base

01 - 1 cup dried green or brown lentils, rinsed
02 - 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
07 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Herbs & Spices

08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Sauce & Finishing

11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
12 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish

# How To Cook:

01 - Combine lentils and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer uncovered until lentils are just tender, 20-25 minutes. Drain any excess liquid and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle in dried oregano, thyme, and smoked paprika. Stir constantly for 30 seconds to toast the spices and release their aromatic oils.
04 - Add the cooked lentils to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in the aromatic vegetable mixture. Pour in heavy cream and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the lentils, about 5 minutes.
05 - Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in fresh chopped basil. Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with additional basil leaves and a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately while hot and creamy.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The creamy sauce clings to every lentil like a warm hug
  • Its ready in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Even self-proclaimed lentil skeptics ask for seconds
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening as it sits, so dont reduce it too much on the stove
  • Sun-dried tomatoes vary in saltiness, always taste before adding extra salt
  • Reserve some pasta water-like liquid from the lentils if you need to thin the sauce later
03 -
  • Use the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar to sauté your onions for extra flavor
  • Grate your own Parmesan fresh, it melts so much better than pre-grated

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