These 14 Foods Made With Lentils Prove That There is More to This Protein-Packed Legume Than Soup

If there’s one place we’ve been seeing lentils pop up a lot more in recently, it’s the snack aisle. Lentil-based chips, like Simply 7 Lentil Chips, have been hitting the shelves as of late. This particular posting is for the sea salt flavor which is made from four ingredients: lentil flour, potato starch, sunflower or safflower oil, and sea salt. Each four-ounce bag provides 12 grams of protein. Reviewers are reporting that these chips are much healthier than your average potato chip, are tasty, filling, and very addicting. You can get a pack of 12 four-ounce bags for about $27.50.

To enjoy a meal with lentils you usually have to spend a bit of time in the kitchen, cooking the lentils themselves along with anything else you want to serve them with. That is unless you have an easy, instant meal like Tasty Bite Indian Entree Jodhpur Lentils. This microwaveable entrée is gluten-free and made from water, lentils, sunflower oil, salt, tomatoes, garlic, cumin, turmeric, and chilis. Each package (two servings worth) provides 14 grams of protein. Reviewers are reporting that this product is a must-try, extremely convenient, flavorful, and filling. Just beware, these lentils are extremely soft, almost soup-like, as one reviewer put it. You may want to pair these with rice or potatoes. You can get a pack of six 10-ounce pouches for about $18.

Zouq Golden Lentils is an extremely simple snack. It is made from three ingredients: golden lentils, a touch of oil, and a sprinkling of sea salt. They are non-GMO, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, MSG-free, and provide six grams of protein per one ounce serving. Reviewers are reporting that these crunchy lentils are delicious, taste “just like potato chips,” and are an easy and fast source of protein. You can get 12 four-ounce pouches for $25.

Bring the nutritional power of pulses to your dinner with lentil-based pasta! Tolerant Red Lentil Penne is a single-ingredient, gluten-free pasta that delivers 21 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per serving. Since it has such a high protein content, this pasta is even recommended by Tolerant as a meat replacement! This pasta is also soy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. Reviewers are reporting that this pasta is delicious, tastes very similar to regular pasta, and has an impressive protein content. You can get six eight-ounce boxes for a little under $26.

Lentil soup may just be the most popular way to eat lentils, and it’s easy to see why, soup is a dense, hearty option that is easy to make and will keep you full for hours. Amy’s Lentil Soup, for instance, is made from a mixture of lentils, celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, and spices and simply needs to be heated for a few minutes on a stovetop or in the microwave. Just one can of this soup has 16 grams of protein and 50 grams of carbs. It also has zero grams of trans fat, zero preservatives, and zero MSG. Reviewers are reporting that this soup is flavorful, contains no “yucky, processed stuff” and is great for any meal of the day, even breakfast! To try it out, you can get a pack of 12 14.75-ounce cans for a little over $25.

Harvest Snaps may be most popular for their snap pea crisps, but did you know that Harvest Snaps Lentil Snaps is also a thing? Yup, that’s right. Just like the snap pea variety, these are delicious, puffed “chips” in the shape of pea pods and, in this particular case, are made primarily from red lentil beans, vegetable oil, rice, and tomato basil seasoning. Not only are they super-addictive, but with each serving containing five grams of protein, and two grams of fiber, they’re way healthier than the average potato chip! Better yet, they’re gluten-free, and most of the flavors they offer are vegan as well. Reviewers are reporting that these crisps are light, crunchy, tasty, and healthy. You can get a pack of 12 three-ounce bags for about $29.50. 

Looking for a healthier alternative to cold cuts? Check out Field Roast Lentil Sage Deli Slices. Instead of meat, these slices are made primarily from water, vital wheat gluten, and expeller pressed safflower oil, and then seasoned with garlic, onion powder, sea salt, carrots, and lentils. Reviewers have had successful results using it in cold sandwiches, as well as warm panini sandwiches. To try something new in your sandwich, you can get one 5.5-ounce package for about $3.

While we’re on the cold cut topic, why not also sneak some lentils in with your bread choice? One Degree Foods Veganic Lentil Grain Bread is a vegan, kosher, and 95 percent organic bread made from lentils, gluten flour, quick oats, yeast, unrefined salt, sprouted organic white wheat, and sweetened with raisins. About each slice provides six grams of protein. Reviewers are reporting that this bread is extremely clean, nutrient-dense, satisfying, easy-to-digest, and high in protein. You can get a pack of eight 21-ounce loaves for a little more than $70.

While lentils do last a while before being cooked and even after the fact, there’s nothing quite as convenient as having a dried version of your favorite vegetables and legumes. Harmony House Foods Dehydrated Lentils, for example, have been dehydrated gently so that you can enjoy lentils whenever you want. These non-GMO lentils do not contain any additives, fillers, or preservatives. To enjoy them, simply combine one cup of lentils with two cups of simmering water. According to Harmony House Foods, they are ready in 15 minutes. Reviewers are reporting that these lentils are convenient, fresh-tasting, satisfying, and good quality. To see for yourself, you can get one 16-ounce jar for $13.

Lentil soup is pretty nutrient-dense on its own, so adding vegetables only makes it better. Take Pacific Foods Vegetable Lentil and Roasted Red Pepper Soup, for instance. This soup is made from filtered water, tomatoes, onions, black beans, celery, red lentils, lentils, roasted red peppers, corn, corn starch, and a variety of spices. Each one-cup serving provides eight grams of protein. Reviewers are reporting that this soup is hearty, flavorful, satisfying, and extremely nutrient-dense. As one Amazon reviewer points out, however, this soup is not your traditional lentil soup ratio (80 percent lentils, 20 percent touches like onions and tomatoes) but rather the base is split 50/50 between lentils and the black beans and vegetables. If you want to try it out, you can get 12 17-ounce boxes for $35, that’s about $3 a box.

Ancient Harvest Lentil and Quinoa Pasta combines green lentil flour with organic quinoa flour to create a protein-packed pasta. Each serving (two ounces) contains 14 grams of protein and seven grams of fiber. This product is also wheat-free, gluten-free, yeast-free, and non-GMO. Reviewers are reporting that this product is a bit starchy but is otherwise a solid gluten-free option. To try it out for yourself, you can get a pack of six eight-ounce boxes for $27.50.

Enjoy Life Foods Plentils is an excellent snack for people with multiple allergies. These chips are free from some of the top allergens, including: gluten, wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish. They are made with five ingredients: lentil powder, potato starch, safflower oil, salt, and turmeric. Each one-ounce serving provides three grams of protein. Reviewers are reporting that these chips are light and crunchy but satisfying, nutrient-dense, and are not greasy like potato chips. They also have the flavors ‘Garlic and Parmesan’ and ‘Sour Cream and Onion’ which are surprisingly vegan. You can get a pack of 24 bags for about $25.50.

Dr McDougall’s Lentil Curry Pilaf is a gluten-free, low-calorie, and low-fat microwavable “Asian entrée” that is made from brown rice, lentils, dried vegetables (tomato, garlic, shallots, onion, cilantro), white rice, wild rice, almonds, yeast extract, and spices. Reviewers are saying that this meal is hearty, filling, “doesn’t taste like it’s a microwaveable meal,” and is very convenient. Some reviewers don’t think that the meal is spicy enough to be called a “curry” but as one reviewer points out, you can always add your own spices after the fact. If you want to try it out, you can get a pack of six 2.5-ounce packages for a little more $22.50.

Want to add the hearty flavor of lentils to your meals easily? Consider checking out Spicy Nothings Lentil Curry Simmer Sauce. This gluten-free sauce is made from cooked lentils, water, onions, tomatoes, canola oil, lime juice, ginger, garlic, kosher salt, evaporated cane sugar, cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, black pepper, turmeric, chili powder, dried red chili, cilantro, and tamarind. Spicy Nothings recommends topping roasted vegetables with this sauce for a zesty kick. Reviewers are reporting that this sauce is an excellent way to add more flavor to lentil dishes, vegetable dishes, and rice – and that a just a little bit of it goes a long way. One reviewer shares that this lentil sauce is not as spicy as some of Spicy Nothings’ other simmer sauces but is “still worth a try.” You can get six 12-ounce bottles for a little over $35. 

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