Quick lentils

To the point
The recipe

Quick lentils

Recipe by Elena Fenoll
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: PrincipalCuisine: SpanishDifficulty: Easy
Rations

4

rations
Preparation time

15

minutes
Cooking time

8

minutes
Calories

630

kcal/ration
Resting time

5

minutes
Total time

28

minutes

This dish is a real lifesaver for those looking for a comforting, healthy and, above all, quick-to-prepare meal. Lentils are an inexhaustible source of benefits: rich in protein, fiber, iron and other essential nutrients, they are an essential food for a balanced diet. In addition, their versatility makes them perfect for creating simple and delicious dishes that satisfy the whole family.

With this recipe, you can see how to transform this humble legume into a star dish, full of flavor and texture, in the blink of an eye. We use fresh and flavorful ingredients that enhance the natural flavor of lentils, creating a dish that will be a hit at any table.

So tune in to your favorite playlist and prepare your ingredients to delight in cooking our Quick Lentils.

This rich, Spanish-inspired dish, packed with robust and intense flavors thanks to the bacon and ham, invites you to prepare a healthy and comforting meal without sacrificing time or flavor.

The best part? It will take you only 30 minutes to prepare it. Enjoy the seductive aroma while cooking and savor the end result: soft, flavorful and textured lentils. Dare to cook our Quick Lentils, a delicacy that will transport you to the beautiful Spain with every bite!

Modo cocción

Mantén encendida la pantalla de tu dispositivo mientras cocinas

Ingredientes

  • 450 gr lentils

  • 1 onion

  • 1 Italian bell pepper

  • 1 carrot

  • 250 gr diced ham

  • 100 gr diced bacon

  • 2 frankfurter type sausage or similar

  • 200 ml white wine

  • 1 c.p. teaspoon salt

  • Half teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 c.p. teaspoon rosemary

  • 50 gr of extra virgin olive oil

  • 300 gr of water

  • Parsley for decoration

Pasos

  • Cut the carrot into slices and the rest of the vegetables into small pieces. Next, cut the sausages into slices and drain and wash the lentils.
  • Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add the vegetables, bacon, sausages, half a teaspoon of salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are golden brown, approximately 6 minutes (depending on the power of the fire).
  • Add the ham and lentils to the pan. Stir well and add the wine.
  • Let the wine reduce and then add 300 grams of water, half a teaspoon of salt and the rosemary.
  • Cook until there is little broth left and then taste for salt. If necessary, adjust seasoning and cook for 1 minute more. If not, serve on plates and let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Garnish with a little parsley before serving.

Notas

  • It is important to use lentils that do not require pre-soaking, otherwise they will need about 8-12 hours of soaking before starting this recipe.
  • Using smoked bacon can add extra flavor and depth to the dish.
  • The Italian bell pepper can be replaced with green or red bell pepper, depending on personal preference.
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  • A little minced garlic can be added to give the dish a more robust flavor.
  • Make sure not to add too much salt at the beginning, as both ham and bacon are usually quite salty.

Información nutricional (por ración)*

  • Serving Size: 415g
  • Total number of serves: 4
  • Calories: 630kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 36.76g
  • Protein: 42g
  • Fat: 32g
  • Saturated Fat: 10.9g
  • Cholesterol: 82mg
  • Sodium: 2136mg
  • Potassium: 463.63mg
  • Fiber: 17.4g
  • Sugar: 5.2g
  • Vitamin A: 3343IU
  • Vitamin C: 51mg
  • Calcium: 57mg
  • Iron: 6.3mg
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Key points of the recipe

  1. Control the salt content: Keep in mind that the ham and bacon already add saltiness to the dish. Adjust the amount of additional salt carefully to avoid an excessively salty result.
  2. Watch the cooking of the vegetables and lentils: Brown the vegetables until they are well caramelized to maximize their flavor, but do not burn them. Make sure the lentils are cooked to perfection, tender but not falling apart.
  3. Balance the flavors with wine: Use white wine to deglaze and add acidity, which will help balance the richness of the bacon and ham. Allow to reduce adequately to concentrate the flavors before adding the water.

Pairing with wine

This quick lentil recipe has strong flavors and earthy notes, so it needs a wine that can balance all that intensity. I would recommend pairing this dish with a medium-bodied Tempranillo red wine. Tempranillo wines from regions such as Rioja or Ribera del Duero tend to have flavors of plums and dark berries, a touch of leather, and a bit of spice that could complement well the spicy and salty flavors of the bacon and sausages in the dish.

Tempranillo’s medium body will not overwhelm the lentils, and its moderate tannins will heal the rich, fatty flavors of the ham and bacon in the recipe. In addition, fruity flavors can balance the earthiness of lentils and vegetables well.

On the other hand, we should avoid pairing this dish with light and fruity white wines, as they could be overshadowed by the intensity of the dish. Also, very robust red wines with high tannins could compete too much with the flavors of the dish, creating an imbalance on our palate.

Beer pairing

This recipe would go perfectly with a lager or a traditional Belgian beer such as a Dubbel or a Quadrupel.

First, a reliable option is a lager beer. It tends to have light malty flavors and sweetness that will be a nice counterpoint to the salty ham and bacon. Lagers are also generally clear and refreshing, which can help balance the richness and density of the lentils.

Secondly, a Belgian Dubbel or Quadrupel style beer can also work well in this pairing. These beers are dark and have complex flavors of malt, caramel and dried fruits. The high alcohol content can help cut through the richness of the lentils and the caramel flavors can pair well with the ham and carrots.

Avoid pairing a dish like this with very acidic or bitter beers such as IPAs or wheat beers. The former could overpower the subtle flavors of vegetables and lentils, while the latter could create a flavor clash with meats and earthier flavors.

Careful!

Typical allergens

Avoid this recipe if any diner has allergies* to: Sulfur dioxide and sulfites

* In Puchero MIX we inform you about the most typical allergens in this dish. However, we recommend that you ask all diners if they have any specific food allergies. In addition, we recommend checking the labels of all individual ingredients to ensure that they do not contain traces of other allergens, as conditions may vary by producer or manufacturer.

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