Herb-Soaked Lentil Pilaf
A comforting vegetarian dish where brown lentils absorb a fragrant herb-infused broth, creating tender, flavorful grains. This vegetarian recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs Brown lentils, Vegetable broth, Onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 300 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Brown lentils
- 2 cups Vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1/4 cup Fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup Fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then add 1/4 cup finely diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute more until golden and aromatic, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 cup rinsed brown lentils and 2 cups vegetable broth, then bring to a gentle simmer.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until lentils are tender and broth is mostly absorbed, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Step 5: Remove from heat, stir in 1/4 cup chopped parsley and 1/4 cup thyme leaves, then season with salt and pepper to taste until flavors are well blended.
