Spicy, sweet, and sour Kung Pao Lentils come together with a delicious kung pao sauce, veggies, and cooked lentils. This is a super easy one pot, 30 minute weeknight dinner that is gluten-free and vegan. The earthy lentils and Asian flavors of garlic, ginger, and soy sauce work perfect together. Serve these vegan lentils with brown rice to turn it into a complete meal!

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Entree
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

For the Lentils:

  • 1/2 cup dry brown lentils (washed and drained)
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • a generous pinch of salt

For the Sauce:

  • 2-3 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp dry sherry or rice wine
  • 1 tsp hoisin sauce (or use more soy sauce)
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2-3 tsp raw sugar (or use 1 to 2 Tbsp maple syrup or other sweetener)
  • a generous dash of lime zest (1/4 tsp)
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 Tbsp water

For the vegetables:

  • 2 tsp grapeseed oil or other neutral oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped white or red onion
  • 4 dried red chilies like arbol or red chinese (broken into halfs (or use red pepper flakes to taste))
  • 1/2 teaspoon szechuan peppercorns (crushed in a mortar and pestle)
  • 3 Tbsp cashews or peanuts
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 inch knob of ginger, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 3/4 cup chopped celery
  • lemon juice and black pepper, for garnish

Method

  1. Cook the Lentils: Combine the lentils, water, and salt in a saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over medium high heat, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the lentils are tender to preference. Let the lentils sit for 5 minutes before using. Drain excess water if needed and keep aside. Or use 1 1/4 cup cooked lentils or beans.
  2. Make the Sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients into a bowl. Mix well to combine and keep aside.
  3. Cook the Veggies: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the red chilis and szechuan peppercorns, and cook for 15 seconds. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add the cashews or peanuts and mix for a few seconds. Add garlic and ginger and mix in. Add the peppers and celery and mix well. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Add in the sauce and cooked lentils and mix well. Add a few more tbsp water, if you like extra sauce. Reduce heat to low and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the sauce thickens and some is absorbed by the lentils. Taste and adjust spice and sweet. Add red pepper flakes to taste, if needed, and mix in. Garnish with a dash of lemon juice and black pepper. Serve with cooked rice or grains of choice.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.