Irresistible Creamy Marry Me Lentils (Printable)

Comforting lentils in a rich, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with herbs and Parmesan. Ready in under an hour.

# 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 cheese
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine lentils and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until lentils are just tender, 20-25 minutes. Drain any excess liquid if necessary.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, 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 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, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens, becomes creamy, and everything is heated through, about 5 minutes.
05 - Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in fresh chopped basil until incorporated.
06 - Serve hot, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce is the kind of rich and comforting that makes people go quiet mid conversation
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something that simmered all day
  • Versatile enough for dinner parties but casual enough for solo Netflix nights
02 -
  • Don't overcook the lentils initially or they'll turn to mush when combined with the sauce
  • The sauce thickens as it stands so it's okay if it looks slightly thinner than you want
  • Sun-dried tomatoes vary in saltiness so taste before adding much salt
03 -
  • Reserve a bit of pasta water if serving this over noodles to help emulsify the sauce
  • Let the sauce rest for 5 minutes off the heat before serving to let it thicken naturally
  • Warm your bowls before serving to keep the dish hotter longer

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