What to Cook With Lentils and Rice
By SupperScout Editorial Team · Updated October 7, 2026
Lentils and rice are among the cheapest complete meals on earth — and lentils have a superpower: no soaking, 25 minutes, done. If your pantry is thin, this pair is the answer.
Which lentil?
Brown or green lentils hold their shape — they're for mujadara-style dishes and pilafs. Red lentils melt into creamy dal in 15–20 minutes. Buy the wrong one and the texture is off, so check the bag. For a first-timer, brown lentils are the most forgiving.
Mujadara in 40 minutes
Lentils + rice + a mountain of crispy onions. Cook lentils and rice together (lentils need a head start — add rice halfway), season with cumin, and top with onions fried deeply golden. The onions are non-negotiable; they're half the dish. This is peasant food that tastes like a restaurant figured it out.
Dal-style shortcut
Red lentils simmered with turmeric, ginger, and garlic, finished with coconut milk or canned tomatoes. 25 minutes, one pot, over rice. It looks humble and tastes like comfort. A squeeze of lemon at the end wakes everything up.
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More lentil-legume pairs: chickpeas and rice · black beans and rice