These Spanish Lentils with Rice, known as Lentejas con Arroz, are filled with flavors, made with simple heart-healthy ingredients and done in a little over 40 minutes. Serve this dish next to a crunchy baguette and a bottle of Spanish red wine for an amazing meal.
To make this recipe, I used dried green lentils. You can also use the brown ones if you like. Either way, when you’re working with dried lentils, you don’t have to soak them overnight. Just give them a quick rinse and they are ready to go.
For the rice, I used Spanish round rice, which is very similar to arborio rice. Of course, you can use whatever type of rice you like. Just make sure to check the package instructions; that way, you get your liquid to rice ratios right on the money.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: For the liquid, I used homemade vegetable broth. But you can also use chicken broth, beef broth or even water. The lentils and rice will hold for up to 3–4 days in the fridge and freeze for up to 3 months.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
SPANISH PAPRIKA (25% OFF Your Order if you Purchase from this Link)
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make Spanish Lentils with Rice
Spanish Lentils with Rice | Lentajas con Arroz
Ingredients
FOR THE LENTILS
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 35 ml
- 1 small onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 green bell pepper
- 2 carrots
- 1 tbsp sherry vinegar 15 ml
- 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 2.50 grams
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1.50 grams
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 cup dried green lentils 130 grams
- 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1050 ml
- 1 bay leaf
- sea salt & black pepper
FOR THE RICE
- 3 cups vegetable broth 720 ml
- 1 cup Spanish round rice 190 grams
- sea salt
EXTRAS
- handful chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
TO MAKE THE LENTILS
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Heat a stock pot with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
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While the oil is heating, finely chop the onion, roughly chop the garlic, finely chop the green bell pepper, cut the carrots (peeled) into small bite-size pieces and finely grate the tomatoes
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Add the chopped ingredients (except the tomato) into the stock, mix continuously, after 3 to 4 minutes and the vegetables are lightly sauteed, add in the sherry vinegar, paprika and cumin, quickly mix together, then add in the grated tomato, mix and then simmer
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In the meantime, add the dried lentils into a fine sieve and rinse under water
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Once the grated tomato has slightly thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes, add in the rinsed lentils, along with the vegetable broth and bay leaf, raise to a high heat, once it comes to a boil, place a lid on the stock pot and lower to a low heat
TO MAKE THE RICE
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While the lentils are simmering, add the broth into a sauce pan, season with sea salt and heat with a high heat
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Once it comes to a boil add in the rice, mix together, then place a lid on the sauce pan and lower to a low-medium heat, cook until the rice is done and all the broth has been absorbed (15 minutes in my case, make sure to check package instructions on the rice you are using), then remove from the heat and let it sit for a couple of minutes with the lid, then remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork
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Move back to the lentils, after 20 to 25 minutes and the lentils are cooked through, season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, then remove from the heat
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To assemble the dish, add some of the rice into a shallow bowl, then add in some of the lentils next to the rice, garnish with chopped fresh parsley inbetween the rice and lentils, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Spanish Paprika I used to make this Recipe
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Best Cuisines for a healthy heart – Healthy Living Chronicle
[…] standout dish is lentejas con arroz, or Spanish lentils with rice. This meal is packed with flavors and made with simple, heart-healthy […]
16 . Aug . 2024Best Cuisines for a healthy heart
[…] standout dish is lentejas con arroz, or Spanish lentils with rice. This meal is packed with flavors and made with simple, heart-healthy […]
16 . Aug . 2024Ed Alvarez
This is so good. I had to make a few tweaks. But oh man, a hit with the family.
28 . Jul . 2024Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
30 . Jul . 2024Katherine
My family loved this – thank you! It will definitely become a weeknight staple around here.
24 . Jun . 2024Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
24 . Jun . 2024Hernan Atencio
I had to remove 2 cups of liquid to obtain the lentils you show in the video. It was a soup.
23 . Jun . 2024Are you sure of the 4.5 cups to cook the lentils?
Spain on a Fork
Depends on what lentils you use and what heat, for me 1 cup dried green lentils is always 4.5 cups liquid, just try using less liquid next time 🙂 Much love
24 . Jun . 2024Ramya
Cant wait to make this soon for me i never had the best lentils of your life before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
22 . Jun . 2024Spain on a Fork
Thanks for the comment Ramya! Much love 🙂
23 . Jun . 2024