What is the difference between split peas and lentils?
Both lentils and split peas offer the advantage of not needing a soak before cooking (though split peas will hold up better during cooking if you give them a 30 minute soak). Lentils are far more nutritious, but green split peas have heartier flavor (in my experience). Cooking times should be similar, but that’s going to vary pretty widely depending on the recipe and your tenderness preferences. With lentils, you have to watch the cooking time closely so they don’t go mushy, and it will depend on the variety of lentil: green lentils might take 45 minutes, where red lentils only take about 25! So in general, they’re close enough to use interchangeably sometimes. Of course, something like split pea soup is going to be something else entirely if you make it with lentils, so proceed with caution — unless, of course, you like lentil soup (and I do). Sorry if this doesn’t help as much as I’d like it to…there are a lot of variables involved. Then again, recipes aren’t sacred. Try substitut
