Are lentils gluten-free? Yes, but sort and rinse dried lentils

Yes. Lentils are naturally gluten-free. They are a pulse, not a grain.

What to know

• Stray grains. Lentils are grown and processed alongside cereals, and dried lentils can contain the odd grain of wheat or barley. Spread them out, pick through them and rinse before cooking, or buy lentils labelled gluten-free.
• Tinned lentils in water are usually fine; check anything in a sauce.
• Dishes: dal is usually gluten-free, but some recipes use asafoetida (hing), which is often cut with wheat flour. Ask, or buy a gluten-free labelled one.

Keep reading

• Are chickpeas gluten-free?
• Is Indian curry gluten-free?
• Is hummus gluten-free?

Sources: EU Regulation 1169/2011 (Annex II: cereals containing gluten, and the exemptions for wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose and wheat-based maltodextrins), Coeliac UK, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less). Checked 28 September 2026. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.