Crispy Roasted Lentils

Roasted lentils? Don't knock it len-til you've tried it. Crispy, tasty, and high in protein, these things make for a delicious vegan snack that's also naturally gluten-free.

Allow to cool slightly after roasting before diving straight in, or store in an airtight container for up to several days. They're also great for sprinkling over your next soup or salad dish.

If one oven-cooked pulse recipe just isn't enough for you, allow me to also point you in the direction of these smoky roasted chickpeas and crispy roasted black beans.

Are roasted lentils healthy?

Lentils are an affordable and incredibly healthy source of food. Packed full of nutrients including fibre and plant-based protein, these little legumes have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic disease when eaten regularly as part of a balanced diet.

Which lentils are best for roasting?

You can use pretty much any lentil variety you like except red lentils. This is because red lentils turn mushy when cooked, making them much better for lentil soup, stews such as vegan stovies, a smoky mushroom pâte, or lentil dal.

When it comes to roasting, you could go for green lentils (as I've done), brown lentils, black lentils, or Puy lentils. You'll just need to make sure that these are canned or pre-cooked (see below).

Pre-cooking the lentils

To make this recipe, you'll need lentils that have been pre-cooked. If using tinned lentils, the good news is that these have already been cooked as part of the canning process.

If using dried lentils, rinse these and then cover with plenty of water in a pot. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until tender but not so soft that they're falling apart (typically 15-30 minutes depending on the variety).

If you want to find out more about the wonderful world of legumes, see my Beginner's Guide to Pulses.

What you'll need

Roasted lentils are nice and easy to make – you can even omit the additional flavours if you really want to simplify things. For this recipe, you'll need:

• Pre-cooked lentils (I've used green lentils straight out of the can)
• Cooking oil to crisp them up and prevent sticking
• Salt to help draw out moisture and add flavour
• Seasoning such as chilli powder and garlic powder

How to make roasted lentils

Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Once the lentils have been drained and rinsed, spread these out on a paper towel and gently pat dry to remove excess water.

Drizzle the oil over a baking sheet then add the lentils. Sprinkle with salt and shake around to create an even layer.

Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, giving the pan a shake every now and then. After 20 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle over the chilli powder and garlic powder.

Shake to coat the lentils evenly and then return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes or until the lentils are slightly crispy but not overcooked.

Once crispy, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

Serving suggestions

Roasted lentils make for a delicious snack on their own, or a nice topping to add extra texture and protein to soups or salads (see this recipe for vegan Waldorf salad).

Variations and tips for roasted lentils

• Amount: This recipe is based on one tin of lentils, but you can easily scale it up and use larger/additional baking sheets.
• Keep it simple: For an ultra-simple take on roasted lentils, skip the extra seasoning and just use oil and salt.
• Oven temperature: If the lentils are taking a while to crisp up, increase the oven temperature slightly but be careful not to overcook.
• Other flavours: You could also use spices such as ground cumin, coriander, or smoked paprika.

Hey you – let me know what you think

If you made this recipe and enjoyed it – or did anything differently – I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments 👇

You can also find me and let me know on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook @thepeskyvegan 🌿

Keep in touch

Subscribe below to receive a weekly newsletter with my latest recipes. Nice and simple. No pesky pestering. No spam (which wouldn’t be very vegan anyway).

• Smoky Roasted Chickpeas
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Roasted Black Beans
• Homemade Hummus
• Crispy Baked Falafel
• Cajun-Spiced Baked Potato Wedges
• Vegan Pancetta
• Easy Roasted Cauliflower

You can also check out my full list of vegan snack recipes.