Lentejas con Verduras y Pimentón (Spanish Lentil Stew)
A humble, budget-friendly Spanish lentil stew built on a simple sofrito and smoky pimentón. Hearty, filling and easy to stretch to feed four for very little.
55 min
start to finish
15 min
hands on
Easy
difficulty
4
servings
Ingredients
Roughly, per serving
340 kcal14g protein48g carbs8g fat
An estimate, not a lab analysis.
Method
Rinse the lentils in a fine sieve and pick out any small stones or debris.
Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion, diced carrot and garlic to the hot oil and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
Stir in the tomato paste and smoked paprika and cook, stirring, until the paste darkens slightly and the spices are fragrant.
Add the rinsed lentils, potato cubes and the bay leaf to the pot.
Pour in the vegetable stock (or water + stock cube), increase the heat and bring the pot to a gentle boil.
Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, partially cover the pot, and cook until the lentils and potatoes are tender.
Remove and discard the bay leaf, then mash about one-quarter of the lentils and potatoes against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon to thicken the stew.
Stir in the sherry vinegar, taste, and adjust with salt and pepper.
Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Worth knowing
- Use dried lentils that do not require soaking (brown or green) — they keep costs down and cook in about 25–35 minutes.
- If you only have paprika that is not smoked, add a small amount of finely chopped roasted red pepper or a drop of liquid smoke to mimic the smoky note.
- Make a larger batch: this stew freezes well for up to 3 months. Reheat gently and add a splash of water if it thickens too much.
Make it yours
Cooking without dairy, without an oven, for someone who won't touch chilli, or for six instead of four? Have the recipe rewritten around it — quantities, steps and all.
VegetarianVeganGluten-freeDairy-freeBudgetMeal prepHigh protein
More Spanish cooking
An original Restaurant Pro recipe — our own composition in the idiom of Spanish cooking, not any restaurant's recipe. Written to be vegetarian and vegan and gluten-free and dairy-free as listed.