Instant Pot Lentil Stew Recipe

This is a gluten-free, vegan, one-pot lentil stew. It has lentils, veggies, and all things comforting you need in a perfect one-pot meal.

What do you need to know about lentil stew?

Lentil Stew is a delicious, fulfilling vegetarian casserole made with brown lentils (whole masoor dal), vegetables (carrot, peas, onion, potato), herbs, and seasoning. I like to call it a fridge-forage stew made with leftover vegetables and a few basic pantry staples.

It is one of my favorite dinner for the busy weeknights.

Reasons to LOVE Lentil Stew

Ingredients Required

Here are the basic ingredients you need to make a tasty vegetarian stew:

Brown Lentils: The base of this stew is the brown lentil or the whole masoor dal. They are easy to cook, store, digestive system friendly, and inexpensive. Lentils are the best source of plant-based protein. Here are my favorite 21 ways to eat lentils every day.

Vegetables: From potato, sweet potato, carrot, beans, peas (fresh or frozen), squash to green leafy vegetables or tomato, feel free to add vegetables of your choice in the stew.

Herbs: Nothing beats the taste of fresh herbs in a stew. I love the combination of garlic, thyme, oregano, and parsley in my stew. But that does not mean you cannot experiment.

Seasoning: I like to keep it simple and let the flavor of the fresh herbs shine throughout my stew. Hence, salt, pepper, and a dash of red paprika do the magic for me.

Stock or Broth: If you want to make a flavorsome stew, please use stock instead of water to cook the lentil and vegetables. In case, you are out of homemade stock, use stock cubes/bouillon cubes dissolved in warm water or canned stock.

Step-By-Step Instant Pot Method

Here is a step-by-step Instant Pot Stew cooking method. It is a 10 minute instant pot lentil recipe.

Serving Suggestion

Lentil Stew is a wholesome, one-pot meal in itself. Usually, apart from bread, there aren’t many sides required to accompany it.

Serve stew with homemade bread, over mashed potato or sweet potato, or on top of herb quinoa or couscous. It is best enjoyed on its own with artisanal bread slices.

Can I use canned lentils for making the stew?

Yes, you can use canned lentils. Drain all the liquid and rinse the lentils with water. Do not saute the canned lentils. Straightaway, cook them as per recipe directions.

Can you cook stew on a stovetop?

Yes, absolutely but the process is slower compared to the Instant pot! If all the ingredients are prepped beforehand, you just need one heavy-duty casserole or Dutch Oven with a lid and 30 – 40 minutes for the stew to be ready. 

Does lentil make the soup thicker?

Yes, the cooked lentils thicken the stews and you don’t need any other thickening agent at all. Once the stew is ready, gently mash the lentils using the back of a ladle to get a thick consistency.

What else I can add to lentil stew?

From pumpkin, sweet potato, squash, kale, baby spinach, beans, boneless chicken, to turmeric, curry powder, and cheese, you can add a lot of your favorite to make this stew suit your taste preference. Stew is a highly customizable lentil recipe.

More Lentil Recipes

Gluten-Free Lentil Salad

Lentil Soup (Mulligatawny)

Oats Lentil Khichdi

Spinach Chana Dal

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