Slow Cooker Butter Lentils
Yield: 4 servings
Active Time: 20 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours in slow cooker
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A savory, tomato-based sauce that works beautifully with lentils. They soak up all the scrumptious flavors and scents as it all slow cooks together all day. It’s perfect over rice, but also great if you want to dip Naan bread into the lentils too. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Single Meal

  • 1 - lb(s) green or red lentils
  • 1 - 15 oz. can(s) diced tomatoes
  • 1 - 6 oz. can(s) tomato paste
  • 3 - Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 - small white onion(s)
  • 2 - tsp minced garlic
  • 3 - Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 - Tbsp chili powder
  • 1 - tsp ground cumin
  • 1 - tsp ground ginger
  • 1 - tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 - tsp garlic cloves
  • 2 - bay leaf**
  • - Salt and pepper
  • Garnish: - heavy cream**
  • Side: - salad**
  • Side: - rice**
  • 1 - gallon-size freezer baggie(s)
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Cooking Directions for Single Meal

  1. Soak the lentils for 10 minutes in bowl of warm water.
  2. Chop the white onion.
  3. Pour all the ingredients into the slow cooker. Whisk in 6 cups of water.
  4. Set on low and cook for 8 hours. Once cooked, immediately remove and discard the bay leaves. Swirl in the heavy cream into the cooked lentils.
  5. Towards the end of the slow cooking cycle, cook the rice as directed.
  6. Add steamed rice to each serving bowl and ladle the lentils on top.
  7. Prepare the salad.
  8. Serve Slow Cooker Butter Lentils over rice with side salad.

Freezeasy Meal Prep Directions

    To each gallon-size plastic freezer baggie, add the following ingredients:

    • 1 - 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
    • 1 - 6 oz. can tomato paste
    • 3 Tbsp lime juice
    • Half of the chopped white onion
    • 2 tsp minced garlic
    • 3 Tbsp lime juice
    • 1 Tbsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp ground cumin
    • 1 tsp ground ginger
    • 1 tsp nutmeg
    • 1/2 tsp cloves
    • Do NOT add the lentils or bay leaves to the freezer meal baggie.

    Remove as much air as possible and seal. Add label to baggie and freeze.

    Freeze & Thaw Instructions

    Put baggie in the freezer and freeze up to 6 months in fridge freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or a warm bowl of water for about 20 minutes, before transferring to the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves and soaked lentils. Slow cook as directed.

    Dairy-Free Modifications

    Recipe is dairy-free when you use unsweetened coconut milk in place of the cream.

    Gluten-Free Modifications

    Recipe is gluten-free when served with gluten-free sides.

    Printable Label Recipe Title

    Slow Cooker Butter Lentils

    Printable Label Instructions

    Thaw and slow cook on low for 8 hours.
    Serve with avocado and cilantro garnish, with side salad.

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