Irresistible Creamy Marry Me Lentils (Printable)
Comforting lentils in creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with herbs, ready in under an hour.
# What You 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 Make:
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, 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 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle in dried oregano, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. Add the cooked lentils to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly 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 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 combined. Serve hot, garnished with additional fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The sun-dried tomatoes create this incredible depth that tastes like you simmered it all day even though it comes together in under an hour
- Its the kind of dish that makes vegetarian food feel decadent and completely satisfying
02 -
- Dont overcook the lentils in the first step or theyll turn mushy when you add them to the cream sauce
- The sauce continues to thicken as it stands so dont panic if it seems slightly thin at first
03 -
- Chop your sun-dried tomatoes fairly small so they distribute evenly throughout the dish
- Reserve some pasta cooking water if youre serving this over pasta to help the sauce cling