Easy French Lentils

French lentils hold their shape when cooked, making them perfect for salads and side dishes. Here’s a basic recipe for how to cook them!

Lentils are some of the world’s most nutrient dense, healthy, and inexpensive foods. So why not eat more of them? Here at A Couple Cooks, we’ve got a huge number of lentil recipes using lentils of all varieties. We cook lentils on the stovetop, and in the lentils in the Instant Pot. We love black, red, yellow and green lentils. But one of our very favorite varieties to cook with is French lentils. Why? Keep reading.

What are French lentils?

French lentils, also known as French green lentils, are very different from the standard green, brown or red variety you’ll find in the store. Here are the key differences:

• They’re smaller. French lentils are small and dark greenish gray. They’re about ⅓ the size of normal lentils.
• French lentils hold their shape when cooked. This makes them work well in salads, side dishes, and soups where you want them to hold together. Other lentil types, especially red lentils, turn into a sort of mush when cooked. (See Masoor Dal as an example!)
• The flavor is peppery and earthy. The flavor of French lentils is a different from other lentils: it’s a little stronger and more earthy.

You should be able to find French lentils at your local grocery store next to the other varieties. Not all grocery stores carry them, so you’ll have to survey your local options. (We have a handful of stores near us we know carry them!) If you can’t find them, you can buy them online.

Are Puy lentils the same?

Yes! French lentils are packaged under the names Puy lentils, du Puy lentils, lentilles du Puy, or French green lentils. (Don’t confuse that with just “green lentils,” which are entirely different!)

Puy lentils are French lentils that were grown in the Puy region in central France. This region has volcanic soil, so you might notice a slight flavor difference where this variety is more peppery. However, the flavor differences are so subtle that the two are interchangeable.

How to cook French lentils

Cooking French lentils is very easy: all you need is a saucepan and 20 minutes! Here’s all you need to know (or go right to the recipe):

• Add the lentils and liquid to a saucepan. Use the ratio of 3 parts liquid to 1 part lentils (6 cups liquid to 2 cups lentils). You can use vegetable broth, water or a mix of the two.
• Bring to a simmer, then simmer 15 to 20 minutes until tender. At around 15 minutes, taste and assess doneness. Keep cooking until the lentils are tender.
• Drain. Drain the excess liquid. Taste and add additional seasonings if desired. Keep reading for more on that…

How to serve them! French lentils recipes

Once you’re done cooking them, what next? Here are recipes that highlight this unique variety of legumes:

• Easy side dish: olive oil + chopped herbs. All you need to do to dress these up? Add a drizzle of olive oil and whatever chopped herbs you have on hand.
• Lentil salad. This French lentil salad uses Dijon dressing, shallot, mint and feta cheese to take these lentils over the top! Or, try this Lentil Salad with Feta.
• Shepherd’s Pie. Use them in our Vegan Shepherd’s Pie! It’s a fan favorite with a thick, savory gravy and fluffy mashed potatoes.
• Sloppy Joes! Substitute for brown lentils in our deliciously crowd-pleasing Vegan Sloppy Joes.
• Smoky lentils & rice. Our Instant Pot lentils and rice recipe works as a lunch, side dish, or healthy taco filling!
• Stuffed sweet potatoes. These Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Goat Cheese are a stunning vegetarian main dish.

Lentils nutrition

French lentils are not only tasty: they’re full of nutrition benefits! Here are a few of the major benefits of lentils:

• Protein & Fiber: Lentils are a good source of plant-based protein. 1 cup of cooked lentils has about 18 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber. (Source)
• Low in Fat & Calories: Lentils have virtually no saturated fat and are low in calories.
• Protect Against Heart Disease: Lentils are rich in polyphenols, micronutrients thought to help protect against cardiovascular disease. (Source)

This French lentils recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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More lentils resources

We’ve got lots more on lentils! Here are a few of our resources for cooking with this whole food plant based (WFPB) food:

• How to Cook Lentils Lots of info about lentils and how to cook them.
• What are Lentils? An overview of the types of lentils and best recipes for each.
• Seasoned Brown Lentils A basic recipe for brown lentils.
• Benefits of Lentils An outline on the benefits of eating this tasty legume.
• Hearty Lentil Stew Packed with hearty flavor and loaded with plant based protein: perfect for a simple lunch or dinner!