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lentil recipe that the whole family will like

Our Go-To Lentil Recipe for Feeding Everyone

This is one of our go-to meals when we need something simple, filling, and affordable. These easy lentils come together in one pot and are perfect for feeding a big family or stretching your grocery budget.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dry lentils rinsed
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 –3 tomatoes chopped (or 2 tbsp tomato paste)
  • 3 –4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 4 –5 cups water or broth
  • 1 –2 tsp curry powder optional but recommended
  • Salt to taste
  • Optional: carrots green pepper, or spinach

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large pot and sauté onions until soft.
  2. Add garlic and cook briefly.
  3. Stir in tomatoes (or paste) and cook until saucy.
  4. Add lentils, water/broth, and spices.
  5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20–30 minutes until soft.
  6. Add extra veggies if using and cook a few more minutes.
  7. Salt to taste and serve warm.

Emily’s Notes

This is one of those recipes that has become a regular part of life in our kitchen. It’s simple, filling, and made with ingredients we almost always have on hand, which makes it perfect for busy days or weeks when we’re trying to stretch our grocery budget.

I love that one pot of lentils can feed our whole family, and the leftovers are just as delicious the next day. We usually serve them over rice, alongside chapati, or with whatever vegetables we have available.

It’s not a fancy meal, but it’s one of those dependable recipes that reminds me good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest dinners are the ones that bring everyone around the table.

A warm kitchen setting with linens and wooden decor on a stool.

Pull Up a Chair

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Leave a comment below and let me know what you served it with. Some of our best dinner ideas have come from conversations around the table.

From Our Kitchen Notebook

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If you’re looking for a flexible, weeknight-friendly dinner, this one is definitely worth keeping in your rotation.
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A Little About Me

I’m Emily — a wife, mom of three, and home cook who believes some of life’s best conversations happen around the table.

Our family moved back to Uganda after more than a decade away, and our kitchen has become a place where old favorites, new flavors, and everyday moments come together. Here, I share the recipes we actually make for our family—from homemade bread and simple weeknight dinners to treats worth baking again and again.

I’m so glad you stopped by. I hope you find something your family will love, too.

Meet Our Family →

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If you’d like more family recipes, ordinary moments, and stories from life here in Uganda, we’d love to have you around the table.

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Made with love,

Emily

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