This Spanish Lentil & Rice Soup, known in Spain as Lentejas con Arroz, is seriously going to warm your soul and fill your body with so much goodness. It´s packed with flavors, easy to make and made with the most humble ingredients.
To make this recipe, I used dried brown lentils. They cook in just 30 minutes and don´t need to be soaked in water beforehand. Be sure to check the package instructions on the lentils you´re using, so they´re perfectly cooked through.
For the rice, I used Spanish round rice, but you can add any rice you like. Though the amount of liquid added into the soup will change. Spanish rice absorbs much more liquid (1 cup rice to 3 cups liquid). So if you´re using a rice that absorbs less liquid, just add in a bit less liquid into the soup.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: To add more flavor into this soup, I used homemade vegetable broth instead of water. But you can use water if you like, just make sure to season accordingly. This soup will hold for up to 3 days in the fridge and also freezes well in an air-tight container for up to 3 months.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY NONSTICK FRY PAN
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
DRIED BROWN LENTILS
SPANISH ROUND RICE
SPANISH PAPRIKA
SPANISH SEA SALT
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make this Heart-Warming Lentil & Rice Soup
Heart-Warming Lentil & Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
- 1 small onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 carrot
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 2.30 grams
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 cup dried brown lentils 210 grams
- 8 cups vegetable broth 1800 ml
- 1/2 cup Spanish round rice 110 grams
- 2 cups fresh bagged spinach 100 grams
- 1 bay leaf
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
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Finely dice 1 small onion, finely chop 1 green bell pepper, finely chop 1 peeled carrot, roughly chop 4 cloves garlic and finely grate 2 tomatoes to end up with 1/2 cup (115 grams) tomato sauce
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Heat a stock pot with a medium heat and add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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After 2 minutes add in the onion, green bell pepper, carrot and garlic, mix with the olive oil continuously, after 5 minutes and the onion is translucent, add in 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika, quickly mix together, then add in the tomato sauce, mix together and simmer
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When the tomato sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes, add in 1 cup dried brown lentils (rinsed under cold water beforehand), mix together, then add in between 7 to 8 cups of vegetable broth, add in a bay leaf, mix together and raise the heat to a high heat
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When the broth comes to a boil, place a lid on the stock pot and lower to a low heat, cook until the lentils are done, check package instructions
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Once the lentils are cooked through (30 minutes in my case), remove the lid (If the soup looks to dry, add in more broth at this point), then add in 1/2 cup Spanish round rice, give it a mix and place the lid back on the stock pot, cook until rice is fully cooked through, again, check package instructions, once the rice is cooked (18 minutes in my case), remove the lid, add in 2 cups fresh bagged spinach and season with sea salt & black pepper, gently mix together until spinach is just wilted, remove from the heat
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Transfer into shallow bowls and serve at once, enjoy!
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Chrissy
23 . Oct . 2023Love this soup, it’s so very tasty and delicious, easy to prepare and cook. Thanks for another great recipe Albert.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
25 . Oct . 2023Asha kubu
09 . Apr . 2023One of the best soup recipes I’ve tried. I used a baged rice and lentil mix for this, added lemon juice, used chicken broth and water, kale instead of the spinach and tomato sauce I made the other day. I’ll definitely make this again, it was absolutely delicious. Than you.
Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Much love 🙂
11 . Apr . 2023Brenda
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: To add more flavor into this soup, I used homemade vegetable broth instead of water. But you can use water if you like, just make sure to season accordingly. This soup will hold for up to 3 days in the fridge and also freezes well in an air-tight container for up to 3 months.
what do you mean by season accordingly?
Great recipe!!
23 . Sep . 2022thank you
Benda
Spain on a Fork
What I mean is to season the water so it adds flavor to the water, as broth is seasoned already 🙂 Much love
24 . Sep . 2022Lisa Walters
09 . Jun . 2022Absolutely amazing and thank you for sharing
Peace and lots of love 🙏❤️
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
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16 . Apr . 2022Vicky
Wishing you a speedy recovery from COVID! Quick question .. if I use lentils from the can, do I add them in later in the cooking process?
22 . Feb . 2022Spain on a Fork
Yes 🙂 Much love!
23 . Feb . 2022Kim Lusk
I am wanting to try this recipe, but have a mixture of brown, red and black rice. Could I substitute this and use red lentils. I am sure I would need to adjust the cooking time. I really enjoy your YouTube videos. God bless hope you heal quickly.
01 . Feb . 2022Spain on a Fork
Yes you can! Just adjust the cooking times as you stated 🙂 much love
01 . Feb . 2022Janice Smith
30 . Jan . 2022Going to make this today.
I hope you are feeling better.
Love your recipes
Simple ingredients and easy to make.
Spain on a Fork
Thank you! Much love 🙂
31 . Jan . 2022VH
30 . Jan . 2022We love your recipes. Your food is absolutely delicious and healing. And we wish you healing.
Spain on a Fork
Thank you so much 🙂 much love
31 . Jan . 2022Gregg Cook
29 . Jan . 2022I make a similar soup with Brown rice for more fiber. it cooks for an hour. The lentils do not overcook.
Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Much love 🙂
29 . Jan . 2022Joann
Thank you Albert for your awesome recipes. I just watched your you tube of this recipe.
29 . Jan . 2022Hope you are feeling better soon!
Spain on a Fork
Thank you so much! Much love 🙂
29 . Jan . 2022Delrae Johnson
Would chicken broth work here?
28 . Jan . 2022Spain on a Fork
Absolutely 🙂 much love
28 . Jan . 2022