French Lentils With Garlic and Thyme

4 steps · 22 min total

1. 01

   Sauté the Vegetables

   Place a large saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chopped onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Sauté them until they're softened, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes.

2. 02

   Simmer the Lentils

   Pour in the 6 cups of water, then add the French lentils, thyme, and bay leaves, along with the salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a fast simmer.
3. 03

   Finish Cooking Lentils

   Continue to simmer the lentils until they are tender and have absorbed most of the water, about 20 to 25 minutes. If there's any excess water left after they've cooked, you can drain it off.

   Serve the lentils immediately, or let them cool completely and reheat them later for an easy meal prep option.

4. 04

   Add Stock for Flavor

   For a deeper flavor, you can swap some of the water for chicken stock. Just reduce the amount of water by the same quantity of stock you add.