gluten-free vegan red lentils bread

Flourless red lentils bread

This unique red lentils bread recipe is not only gluten-free, grain-free and vegan, but also made with only one ingredient – red lentils, exactly! This bread is perfect for those who are looking for a healthy, low-carb alternative to traditional bread.

Red lentils (this is the type we are talking about)are a fantastic source of protein and fiber, making them an excellent addition to any diet. They are also a good source of iron, which is essential for maintaining healthy blood levels. Unlike traditional bread made with wheat flour, this lentil bread is free from gluten and is perfect for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.

The best part about this recipe is that it’s made with whole red lentils, which means it’s unprocessed and retains all of the lentils’ nutritional benefits. This bread is also incredibly easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients and minimal preparation time.

So, if you’re looking for a healthy and delicious gluten-free bread recipe (high in protein, too), look no further than this red lentil bread. Let’s get started!

How to make this red lentils bread – step by step process:

Flourless red lentils bread

4.1 from 116 votes
Course: SidesCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

20

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes

A grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan bread alternative made with only red lentils.

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups red lentils (350 g)

  • 1 tsp dry yeast (5 g)

  • ¼ cup water (50 g)

  • 2 tbsp olive oil (35 g)

  • 1 tsp sea salt

How to

  • The night before baking, rinse and drain the red lentils, then place them in a large bowl and cover with water. Let them soak for at least 2 hours, or overnight in the fridge, up to 24 hours.
  • Once the lentils have soaked, drain off any excess water and add them to a food processor along with the dry yeast, salt, olive oil, and water.
  • Blend the mixture until it becomes smooth and creamy.
  • Line a 12″x4″ (30×10 cm) loaf pan with parchment paper, pour the batter into it and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with toppings like seeds or oats if desired. Let it sit for 1 hour before baking. Halfway through the resting time (after 30 minutes) preheat the oven to 355°F/180°C.
  • Bake the bread for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan and transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Slice and serve the bread as desired. It’s delicious toasted and topped with avocado, hummus, or nut butter.


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Looking for other grain-free alternatives to bread? Take a look at these chickpea flour wraps or this quinoa bread that I sometimes make with 100% quinoa flour and it comes out perfect!

And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram or Pinterest to stay updated on the latest news. Last but not least, I also have an online course with video lessons on how to bake gluten-free bread easily. If you are more of a visual learner, follow this link to start baking with me!

34 Comments

  1. Is this dry or wet lentils? I can’t figure it out.

  2. Came out really good . I just added a little bit of sugar to enhance the flavor . Thanks for the share !

  3. This came out perfectly! Great recipe thank you

  4. Becca Cowan

    A total failure!!!!!
    If your lentils are cold from the fridge, and there is no sugar, what is the point of the yeast. No rise at all!! Worst bread recipe ever! Tastes like poorly seasoned lentil soup. I should have seen the flaws in the recipe before I tried it.

    • Hi Becca,
      This recipe has more than 90 5-starts rating, so it is definitely working for a lot of people. The bread will not be like wheat based bread with big holes in the texture, of course. But it’s soft and a good grain-free alternative to wheat. I’ve tried the same recipe with no yeast at all but yeast brings some softness.

  5. I’ve made this recipe three times. And the third time was the charm. ( I’ve made 1/2 the recipe each time in a 7 x 3 loaf pan.) The lentils soaked for three days, only because I wasn’t able to make the bread earlier. I kept it in the fridge and changed the water every day, though, I think the extra soaking made the lentils softer. While blending I did add a a few teaspoons of water and about 1/2 Tablespoon EVOO, and more salt. Topped with black and white sesame seeds. Outstanding! Next attempt will be a vegan pepperoni cheese bread with garlic and fennel. I think it will be delicious.

  6. Third time making this – and it was the charm. All three times I made half the recipe, deciding it could use a little more salt and oil (which makes everything better!). I soaked the red lentils for three days, only because I wasn’t able to make the bread earlier. I did change the water every day. I’m guessing the lentils became much softer because of the extra-long soaking time. While blending, I added about 2 teaspoons of additional water, an extra 1/2 tablespoon EVOO, and extra grind of pink salt. Topped with white and black sesame seeds. Doesn’t get much better! Thanks so much for the recipe. My next attempt is for a vegan pepperoni-style bread! I’ll let you know how it turns out!

    • Wow thank you so much for your feedback, a lot of useful information. You make me want to try soaking the lentils for a longer time! I’m happy you are enjoying this recipe, let me know about your next tests 😉

    • Wow thank you so much for your feedback, a lot of useful information. You make me want to try soaking the lentils for a longer time! I’m happy you are enjoying this recipe, let me know about your next tests 😉

  7. Hi, I wasn’t sure how to rate it as it didn’t quite work for me and I think it was the loaf pan that I used. Can you tell me exactly what size loaf pan you used? Was it a 12×3 inch? I made this in a 9×5 inch pan and it fell in the middle. It tastes great on the ends and I will use the middle for croutons! I am just not familiar with that pan size and I want to make sure I buy the correct one.
    Thank you!!!!

    • Hi Jane, the pan I used was a tall-sided pullman loaf pan measuring 12×4 inches. Also a sandwich bread loaf pan can be good to use! I hope this helps and I’m happy that you liked it anyway.

  8. Hi, I wasn’t sure how to rate it as it didn’t quite work for me and I think it was the loaf pan that I used. Can you tell me exactly what size loaf pan you used? Was it a 12×3 inch? I made this in a 9×5 inch pan and it fell in the middle. It tastes great on the ends and I will use the middle for croutons! I am just not familiar with that pan size and I want to make sure I buy the correct one.
    Thank you!

  9. This has become my “go to” recipe for bread these days! Simple, inexpensive, easy, and amazing flavor! I have tried several of Marta’s variation suggestions (e.g., no leavening at all, egg instead of yeast, baking powder instead of yeast, etc.). All worked well and turned out as Marta described. However, the basic recipe here is still my favorite! It is incredibly tasty as is and lends itself to variations (e.g., savory with sautéed onions and peppers, a meal on its own with mixed veggies baked in). Great recipe — thank you!

  10. I like this recipe but my bread is dry and I followed the recipe what can make it soft and how can I store it for a couple of days without drying out

    • You can try to add 1 tbsp of psyllium husks + 1 tbsp of water. But unfortuntately it will never be soft as a bread made with grains flours. Let me know if you try!

  11. Hi, Marta. I’m looking at the possibility of using what Americans call fizzy water (sparkling water) instead of yeast (I can’t use due to my allergies) or baking soda. Have you experimented with this as an alternative?

    • Hi Frank,
      yes you can use baking soda. To ensure best results, add ½ teaspoon of vinegar or cider vinegar to react with the baking soda. You can also replace with an egg (but in this case you should remove ¼ c of water from the total amount).
      I also tried it without any yeast / leavening agents, it will result a bit denser but still good.

  12. Just made this and while baking filled my kitchen with a wonderful smell. It tastes great too. It have a red color on the inside but the outside was red.

  13. I wasn’t confident with this but it turned out amazing and with some small airy holes in it too. My GF pal throughly enjoyed it and so did we, especially toasted with hummus. Thank you so much for the recipe xxx

  14. Hi Marta,
    You said you baked this without yeast and it turn out softer. What leavening did you use in the loafs without yeast, baking soda or baking powder?
    Did you try adding sugar for the yeast to feed on in other loafs?
    It seems it doesn’t need a binder such as eggs?

    I’ve been baking rice blender bread, which takes a learning curve to keep it from sinking in the middle, but I’ve managed to over come that. Looking forward to trying this bread.

    Thanks for posting this recipe. I prefer recipes with basic gluten free ingredients.

    George.

    • Hi George, without yeast it was less soft! For that first version, I didn’t use any leavening ingredient. But if you can have it, I suggest following this recipe WITH dry yeast in it.
      No binder is needed, the soaked lentils stay perfectly together when baked.
      Gluten-free bread without gums or commercial blend is my main goal in this blog, I hope you will also find other recipes you will like!
      Happy baking!
      Marta

  15. I loved how simple and inexpensive this is to make, which makes testing it a no-brainer. Even more, I love that it’s loaded with nutrition and is very satisfying, a welcome change from some gluten-free alternatives I’ve tried. Unfortunately I had forgotten how dirty lentils can be, and though I rinsed them multiple times, there was grit and chaff that remained. Next time I’ll sift out as much dirt as I can before rinsing them, and the result will be even better. Thanks for this recipe!

  16. Great recipe. Easy to make and the bread tastes wholesome. I used brown lentils and sprinkled with white sesame seeds on top. The yeast did help raise the bread which made it soft. Thanks for the recipe and will definitely make again.

  17. But, what’s the point of adding yeast if there’s not time to ferment?

    • Hi Clara, I’ve tried this recipe also without yeast and it’s way less soft. I guess the yeast has the time while baking to create some air bubbles anyway!

  18. Pingback: 100% Buckwheat bread with walnuts (gluten-free) - Marta in the jar

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