Soups and Stews

• Themes for lentil soup run the gamut from homey American fare with a ham hock, tomato juice, bay leaf, thyme and oregano, to spicy Spanish and Italian versions with pork or beef sausage and lots of garlic, parsley, fennel and rosemary. Flavors that work well with lentils include bacon and either cayenne or mustard for smoky and hot lentils; cumin to enhance the earthy flavors of the lentils; and a splash of vinegar to add brightness to your dish.

Highly-Seasoned Salads

• Choose salads that rely on the lentils as the primarily ingredients, with herbs such as mint, parsley or chopped olives added for seasoning. Or, opt for salads with other flavorful ingredients that function as seasonings for the lentils, such as roasted tomatoes or eggplant, which will meld into the lentils and give them more flavor. Season salads with tart vinaigrettes with more vinegar or lemon juice than normal to brighten the flavor of the lentils. Wine vinegar, chives, cilantro and shallots all have flavors that pair well with lentil salads.

Indian Dal

• If you use lentils for making dal, an Indian dish made with pureed lentils or split peas, use Indian-inspired spices such as coriander, cumin and turmeric; cumin, chili powder and turmeric; or coriander, fennel seeds, cumin and turmeric. Other seasonings might include tamarind paste, garlic, lime juice and mint, with herbs such as cilantro or curry leaves added for seasoning as well as color.

Classic Lentil Dishes

• Get flavor inspiration from classic lentil dishes. Lentils with a vinaigrette made from red wine vinegar or lemon juice and Dijon mustard serve as a bed for poached or grilled salmon in high-end restaurants, with tarragon sometimes added for extra flavor. Homey lentil loaf, a vegetarian substitute for meat loaf, uses sage, thyme and apple cider in the cooking liquid, with parsley and bell pepper added as seasoning ingredients in the loaf itself.