Warm spices, tender lentils and fluffy brown rice come together with browned onions and roasted cauliflower for a dish that's as nourishing as it is delicious. Serve it as a side dish or vegetarian entrée.
Let's be real-some nights you want a five-star meal, and other nights you're eating cereal out of the box. This brown rice with lentils and roasted cauliflower sits somewhere in the middle: delicious enough to impress yourself, but easy enough that you won't accidentally set off your smoke alarm.
The mix of warm spices, crispy cauliflower, and hearty lentils is so satisfying, you might just forget that you were considering ordering takeout (again). Bonus: it makes amazing leftovers! It works as a meatless main dish or as a hearty side dish.
Make it a meal
When keeping things meatless, I like to stir in some chopped spinach or kale. Add another splash of vegetable broth and heat until the greens are wilted. Alternatively, serve with a side or steamed broccoli, steamed greens beans or a salad.
Or serve it as a side dish with Herbed Pork Chops with Garlic Butter, Braised Balsamic Chicken or Baked Cod with Panko.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Lentils: Brown or green lentils. Do not use red lentils in this recipe. The cook time required for the rice will turn red lentils to mush.
- Rice: Brown rice, such brown basmati or brown jasmine.
- Vegetables: Use a yellow onion and a large carrot.
- Cauliflower: Cut into small florets.
- Broth: Use vegetable broth to keep this recipe vegetarian/vegan. Chicken broth can be substituted if you prefer.
- Seasonings: Ground cumin, ground coriander, red pepper flakes and garlic for the rice and lentils. Dried oregano for the cauliflower.
- Olive oil: For sautéing the onion and roasting the cauliflower.
How to make brown rice with lentils
⭐️ See full recipe card below.⭐️
- Sauté the onion and carrot until the onion is brown, then add the spices and garlic.
- Add the broth, rice and lentils. Simmer until tender.
- Roast the cauliflower in the oven, then stir it into the rice and lentils.
Make-ahead and storage
Brown rice with lentils is a great meal prep recipe. Allow it to cool, then transfer to an airtight container (I like these glass ones) and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Or store it in divided storage containers, along with steamed broccoli or a salad (vegetarian) or with cooked chicken or spiced salmon.
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Brown Rice with Lentils
Ingredients
The rice and lentils
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 large carrot diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes or more to taste
- 1 cup brown basmati rice
- 1 cup brown or green lentils
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- Extra water or broth if needed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
The cauliflower
- 2 ½ cups small cauliflower florets
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
The rice and lentils
- Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick saucepan set over medium heat. The saucepan should have a lid, which you'll need later.
- Add the onion and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the rice, lentils and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low (mixture should be at a gentle simmer), cover and cook until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes. If the lentils are not fully cooked after 45 minutes, add additional water or broth (start with ¼ cup) and cook until tender.
- Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Stir in the roasted cauliflower and parsley. Serve it up!
The cauliflower
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly coat a small baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, oregano and salt until coated. Spread evenly on the baking sheet.
- Roast until tender, about 20 minutes. I typically roast for 10 minutes on the middle oven rack and 10 minutes on the lowest rack for better browning.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Linda A.
Unfortunately, I'll have to take a pass on this.Too much sodium for me!
Dara
Hi Linda, swapping the broth with a low-sodium version will decrease the sodium content. I hope you give it a try.
Niecy
Love this dish, my husband can't get enough of it..I make it once a week, and it's gone by the end of the week. Must keep.
Dara
That's so great to hear, Nancy! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Trevor Michalski
Superb!