Lentil Chorizo Stew Recipe Recipe Cards

CHORIZO AND LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• In a large pan, heat 4 tablespoons of the oil and gently fry the chopped garlic, onion, carrot, leek, pepper and bay leaf for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add the smoked paprika and chopped tomato and fry for a further 3 minutes.
• Add the lentils and cover with the hot water. Season the lentils with salt and and simmer with the lid on for about 40 minutes, preventing the liquid from boiling as the lentils will split. Shake the pan now and again to thicken the liquid.
• Whilst the lentils are cooking, heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan and fry the chorizo sausages for 2 minutes on each side. Drain on to some kitchen paper and add to the lentil stew for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
• Once the lentils are tender, cover with a lid and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving in warm soup bowls with some crusty bread and a glass of red txakoli.

LENTILS WITH CHORIZO, GREENS AND YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Make the lentils: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add onion, stir to coat with oil, and season well with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Lower heat to medium, add chorizo and continue to cook mixture until chorizo has browned a bit. Add cumin, garlic and pimentón, and stir to combine.
• Add lentils to pot and pour in 6 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, add 1 teaspoon salt, then turn down to a low simmer. Keep pot covered with lid ajar, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes, until well cooked and porridgelike. (Add a small amount of water to loosen slightly if necessary.)
• Add the chard, pushing down to help it wilt. Put on lid and cook 15 minutes more until chard is well cooked. Stir to combine with lentils.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice: Rinse rice well in a bowl of cold water until water runs clear, then drain. Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and starting to color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat. Add cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, salt and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to very low. Cook for 15 minutes, then turn it off and leave to steam with the lid on for up to 30 minutes.
• To serve, put a large ladle of stewed lentils in a low wide soup bowl and place a large spoonful of rice next to it. Sprinkle with scallions.

LENTILS WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Rinse lentils; place in large pot. Pour enough water into the pot to cover the lentils by 2 inches; add the chicken bouillon cube to the pot. Bring to simmer; cook until lentils are just tender, about 20 minutes.
• While lentils are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chorizo until brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from pan. In the same pan, lightly fry bacon until cooked but still soft, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon, leaving drippings in pan. Chop bacon.
• Cook the tomato, tomatillo, onion, and garlic in the bacon fat until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the water and cilantro; transfer mixture to a blender. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the mixture moving before leaving it on to puree until smooth.
• Stir the pureed vegetables, cooked chorizo, cooked bacon, and cumin into the lentils and cooking water. Stir over medium heat until hot, about 5 minutes. Serve in bowls; top each bowl with a teaspoon of cotija cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

RED LENTIL & CHORIZO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the chorizo and cook until crisp and it has released its oils. Remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl, leaving the fat in the pan. Fry the onion, carrots and cumin seeds for 10 mins until soft and glistening, then add the garlic and fry for 1 min more. Scatter over the paprika and sugar, cook for 1 min, then splash in the vinegar. Simmer for a moment, then stir in the lentils, and pour over the tomatoes and chicken stock.
• Give it a good stir, then simmer for 30 mins or until the lentils are tender. Blitz with a hand blender until smooth-ish but still chunky. Can be made several days ahead or frozen for 6 months at this point. Serve in bowls, drizzled with yogurt and olive oil, scattered with the chorizo and a sprinkling of paprika.