Brown Lentils
Brown lentils are whole, earthy lentils that soften into a tender but still defined texture. Rinse them, pick out any grit, and simmer gently so they hold shape in soups, salads, and stews.
Identity
Whole earthy lentils
Rinse, simmer gently, and stop before they collapse.
Brown lentils cook faster than many beans and do not need soaking. They work well when you want a tender bite and a lightly thickened cooking liquid. Check near the end of cooking, because a hard boil can split them and turn the pot pasty.
Reference image
Brown Lentils reference image.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Used In Recipes
Substitutions
Brown Lentils -> Green Lentils
1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
The source lists this as an alternative in the same ingredient row.
Source: Best Lentil Soup
Lentils -> Brown Lentils
1 cup green or brown lentils
The source lists this as an alternative in the same ingredient row.
Source: MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL SOUP