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5 from 20 votes

Instant Pot Lentils

Learn how to cook lentils in Instant Pot with the no soak method! Super easy Instant Pot Lentils (Pressure Cooker Lentils) Recipe that makes perfectly tender & evenly cooked lentils. You'll enjoy this soul-soothing, hearty, flavorful side dish or tasty sauce over rice or pasta.
Servings 6 - 8
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (400g) split green lentils
  • 4 cups (1L) unsalted chicken stock or vegetable stock
  • 2 (0.5g) bay leaves
  • 2 (228g) carrots , roughly diced
  • 2 ribs (209g) celery , roughly diced
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) ghee or unsalted butter (vegan option - olive oil)
  • 1 pound (454g) smoked kielbasa sausage , sliced (omit if vegan)
  • 1 (240g) onion , roughly diced
  • 1 (70g) shallot , roughly diced
  • 6 cloves (18g) garlic , roughly minced
  • 14 oz (400g) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon (2.7g) cumin seed , ground
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) regular soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) fish sauce (you can substitute it with regular soy sauce)

Garnish:

  • A dash balsamic vinegar (optional)
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Brown Sausage: Press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” function to heat up Instant Pot. Wait until “HOT” appears on the screen (~8mins).
    Add 2 tbsp (30g) ghee or unsalted butter in Instant Pot. Add in sliced sausages, then saute for 5 minutes.
  • Saute Onions & Garlic: Add in diced onion and shallot, then saute for 3 minutes. Add in minced garlic, 1 tsp (2.7g) ground cumin, and 2 bay leaves, then saute for another minute.
  • Deglaze: Pour in ½ cup (125ml) unsalted stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot. Give it a quick mix.
  • Pressure Cook Lentils: Add in 2 cups (400g) green lentils, diced carrots, diced celery, 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, and 1 tbsp (15ml) fish sauce. Pour in 3½ cups (875ml) unsalted stock, then give it a quick mix. Layer 14 oz (400g) crushed tomatoes on top of the other ingredients in Instant Pot - do not mix!
    With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure 10 minutes + Natural Release 10 minutes. Open the lid carefully.
  • Thicken & Season: If desired, stir & thicken the lentils with the "Saute More" function. Taste & adjust the seasoning accordingly.
    *Pro Tip: For reference, add roughly 1 - 2 pinches of salt to open up the flavors & season properly.
  • Serve: Garnish lentils with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. You can serve these tasty lentils as a side dish, main dish, or serve them on top of rice or pasta.
    *Pro Tip: You can add a dash of balsamic vinegar for another layer of flavor. Be sure to first taste test with a small portion in a separate bowl to see if you like this flavor profile before adding it to the whole pot of lentils.

Notes

Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!
Author: Amy + Jacky
Calories: 455kcal

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 931mg | Potassium: 1090mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5006IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 6mg