What to Make With Lentils and Carrots: 3 Easy, Cozy Dinners
Lentils and carrots keep for a long time and turn into a warm bowl of soup with very little work. Canned lentils are ready to go. Dry red or yellow lentils cook without soaking.
Rinse dry lentils first, slice the carrots thin so they soften with the lentils, and save the lemon or salt for the end. That's where the flavor comes from.
Got more in the fridge? Tell Chilly what you have, or snap a photo, and we'll pick a dinner for you. Free. → Find tonight's dinner
Tonight's picks
1. Lentil soup with carrots and potatoes (one pot)
Uses: a can of lentils, carrots, potatoes, garlic, oil
- Warm the oil in a pot and cook the garlic for half a minute.
- Add the lentils, sliced carrots and diced potatoes with water to cover.
- Simmer until the carrots and potatoes are tender.
- Taste, season and serve.
Keeps: thickens overnight. Add a splash of water when you reheat it.
2. Dal tadka with lentils, carrots and rice (Indian-style)
Uses: lentils, carrot, rice, onion, garlic, cumin seeds, turmeric, tomato
- Simmer the rinsed lentils with turmeric and salt until they fall apart.
- Simmer the diced carrot with the rice until both are tender.
- Crackle cumin in oil, then fry the onion, garlic and tomato until the tomato breaks down.
- Stir that into the lentils and serve over the rice.
Keeps: dal keeps 4 days in the fridge.
3. Middle Eastern lentil soup with carrots and rice (lemony, one pot)
Uses: lentils, carrots, rice, onion, cumin, olive oil, lemon
- Rinse the lentils and rice.
- Fry the onion and cumin in olive oil.
- Add the lentils, rice, sliced carrots, salt and water to cover.
- Simmer until soft, then finish with lemon.
Keeps: freezes well in portions.
Each recipe serves 2. Double it for 4.
More lentil and carrot dinners
Ethiopian lentil stew with carrots and potatoes · Lebanese lentil soup with carrots and potatoes · French lentil soup with carrots and potatoes
Make it with leftovers
Leftover rice goes straight into the soup. Leftover dal makes a good filling for a wrap the next day.
Pantry staples you'll need
Oil, garlic, salt and an onion. Cumin and turmeric for the dal. A lemon for the Middle Eastern soup.
No carrots: use celery, sweet potato or a handful of spinach.
Picky-eater tweaks
- Blend half the soup so it's smooth. Kids often like it better that way.
- Serve with bread or rice for dipping.
- Lentils make a meatless dinner filling.
Have something else in the fridge?
Try black beans and rice, potatoes and onions or nothing in the fridge. Or tell Chilly what you have.
FAQ
Do I need to soak lentils?
No. Red, yellow, green and brown lentils all cook without soaking. Just rinse them.
Can I use canned lentils?
Yes. Add them with the vegetables and simmer until the carrots are soft.
Is lentil soup a full meal?
With potatoes or rice and some bread, yes.
Is it kid-friendly?
Kids often like it blended smooth, with bread for dipping.
What if I don't have carrots?
Make it anyway. Lentils, onion and garlic are enough for a good soup.