Creamy Marry Me Lentils (Printable)
Tender lentils in a velvety sun-dried tomato cream sauce with aromatic herbs. A comforting Mediterranean-inspired dish ready in 50 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Lentils & Main
01 - 1 cup dried green or brown lentils, rinsed
02 - 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
→ Vegetables & Base
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
→ Sauce & Finish
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
12 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine lentils and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until lentils are just tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain any excess liquid if needed.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes; cook for another minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in dried oregano, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. Add the cooked, drained lentils to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat in the aromatic vegetable mixture.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats the lentils, about 5 minutes.
05 - Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in chopped fresh basil until evenly distributed.
06 - Transfer to serving bowls and serve hot. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves and extra grated Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes makes lentils feel downright luxurious, like something youd order at a fancy restaurant
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day, perfect for those nights when you want comfort food without the effort
02 -
- Once made, I found that the sauce looks curdled if you boil it vigorously after adding the cream, so keep the heat gentle and low
- The flavors actually improve overnight, so this is one of those rare dishes that tastes even better for lunch the next day
03 -
- Chop your sun-dried tomatoes into smaller pieces than you think you need, so their flavor distributes evenly throughout every bite
- Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the sauce without risking any curdling