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Mediterranean

Lentil and Roasted Pepper Bowls

Brown lentils simmer until just tender, then get tossed with jarred roasted peppers, parsley, and lemon. It is a bowl you can pack.

Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Total
35 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
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Bowl of lentils with roasted red peppers, parsley, and lemon

Why you’ll love it

  • Lentils are the protein and the bulk.
  • Jarred peppers save an hour of roasting.
  • Lemon is the seasoning that matters.
  • It holds in a lunch container.

Ingredients

Servings4

Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.

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Instructions

  1. 1

    Simmer the lentils in the water with 1/2 tsp salt for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender but not split. Drain.

  2. 2

    Toss the warm lentils with the peppers, oil, lemon juice, remaining salt, and black pepper.

  3. 3

    Fold in the parsley.

  4. 4

    Taste and add more lemon if it tastes dull.

  5. 5

    Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pro tips

  • Salt the lentils while they cook, not only at the end.
  • Drain well or the bowl is watery.
  • A spoon of yogurt on top is good and optional.

Easy substitutions

Brown lentils
Green lentils
Roasted peppers
Cherry tomatoes
Parsley
Cilantro

Storage and reheating

Storage

Refrigerate up to 4 days.

Reheating

Serve cold, or warm gently with a splash of water.

Nutrition

Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.

Calories
280
Protein
14 g
Carbs
36 g
Fat
8 g
Fiber
10 g

Budget friendly · Stovetop · Vegetarian, Dairy-Free

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From the kitchen

Kitchen tools we love

Practical tools these recipes actually use. This is not a review roundup, and these are not paid placements. If affiliate links are added later, they will be labeled and disclosed.

  • A heavy 12-inch skillet

    Most of the chicken and steak recipes are written for one pan that holds heat. Stainless or cast iron both work.

  • An air fryer with a real basket

    The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.

  • A half-sheet pan

    Drumsticks, potatoes, sausage, and carrots all use one. A dark pan browns faster than a very shiny one.

  • A sharp chef’s knife

    These recipes do not need a specialty blade. A sharp 8-inch knife is faster and safer than a dull one.

  • A large cutting board

    Big enough that the onion and the raw chicken are not sharing the same puddle.

  • Dry cups and a liquid cup

    Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.

  • An instant-read thermometer

    Use it for poultry, pork chops, and meatloaf. Color is a weak guide.

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Ingredients