Creamy Marry Me Lentils (Printable)

Comforting lentils in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with herbs, 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
12 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

# How to Prepare:

01 - Combine lentils and 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, 20-25 minutes. Drain any excess liquid.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle in oregano, thyme, and smoked paprika, stirring to combine. 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 occasionally, 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 well combined. Serve immediately, garnished with additional basil and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way the cream mingles with sun-dried tomatoes creates a sauce so good youll want to drink it straight from the pan
  • These lentils taste like they simmered all day but come together in under an hour
  • Something magical happens when the smoked paprika hits the cream its deeply savory without any meat
02 -
  • Resist the urge to overcook the lentils in the first step they should be tender but still holding their shape before they hit the cream sauce
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it stands off the heat so dont panic if it looks slightly thinner than you want while still simmering
  • Fresh basil matters here but if you only have dried, add it with the other dried herbs instead of at the end
03 -
  • Save the oil from your sun-dried tomatoes and drizzle a little over each serving for an extra punch of flavor
  • If you only have regular paprika, you can still make this work but try to find smoked paprika next time it truly transforms the dish

Go Back