Use a fine-mesh strainer to rinse the dried red lentils under cold water, getting rid of any dust or debris.

Decide how many dried red lentils you want to cook. The typical ratio is 1 cup of lentils to 3 cups of water. Adjust according to your recipe.

In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the specified amount of water to a boil. You can add a pinch of salt if you like.

Once the water is boiling, add the rinsed red lentils to the saucepan, giving them a quick stir.

Lower the heat and cover the saucepan with a lid to let it gently simmer.

Let the red lentils simmer for about 15-20 minutes until they absorb the water and become tender. Taste one to check—they should be soft but not mushy.

Depending on your recipe, you might want to keep some cooking liquid. Red lentils tend to absorb a lot of liquid, so if you're making a soup or stew, you can retain some. For salads or side dishes, feel free to drain extra water.

Your cooked red lentils are ready to be added to your desired recipe, whether it's a soup, curry, salad, dip, or any other dish.