Lentil Stew Recipe
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 2 slices bacon diced finely
- 1 small onion chopped finely
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 8 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 tablespoon garlic chopped
- 1 leek white and pale green parts only, halved lengthwise
- 1 medium carrot halved lengthwise
- 1 large bell pepper quartered
- 1 cup lentils I used red but the recipe calls for green
- 1 sprig thyme
- salt
- 1 teaspoon Pimentón de la Vera smoked Paprika - if you can't find Pimentón, substitute sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
Instructions
- Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add one tablespoon of the olive oil. When hot, add the bacon and cook until it is brown but not crisp.
- Add the diced onion and cook for about 3 minutes until you can smell them release their aromatics.
- Add the stock, garlic cloves, leek, carrot, bell pepper, lentils, and thyme sprig. Bring this mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- When done cooking, could you remove the thyme spring from the lentils? Like I did, you may find it breaks up into pieces, and it is hard to remove every bit of it. Don't worry; it adds a little additional flavor to the stew.
- Pick out the garlic, leek, carrot, and bell pepper quarters and transfer to a blender. Add about ¼ cup of the cooking liquid and puree the vegetables.
- The recipe says to drain the lentils and return them to the pot. My experience was there was nothing to drain. I don't think so if this was because I used red lentils rather than green ones. So if you experience the same, don't worry about it.
- Add the pureed vegetables to the lentils and stir them.
- Heat a small skillet over medium heat; add the remaining four tablespoons of oil and the garlic. Reduce the heat to low and cook the garlic for about a minute.
- Add the smoked Paprika, stir, and transfer it to the lentils. Stir and simmer for a few minutes.
- Add the sherry vinegar, taste, and if needed, season with salt.
- Serve it in a bowl and top with the chicken thighs, but do try this with other meals as a side dish—lots of flavor and easy to prepare. And don't hesitate to create your version using other ingredients you have on hand.
Notes
Don't add salt to the liquid you are cooking them in because it toughens the lentils. Season after they are cooked.