Guiso de Lentejas

A thick stew where lentils are tender but hold their shape. The chorizo and pancetta release their red fat, coating the vegetables with the characteristic smoky aroma of paprika.

• Prep time: 20 min
• Cook time: 50 min
• Difficulty: Easy
• Calories: 774
• Protein: 41 g
• Carbs: 59 g
• Fat: 38 g

Ingredients

• 300 g Green lentil ( rinsed )
• 150 g Chorizo ( sliced into rounds )
• 100 g Pancetta or dry rolled pork belly ( diced )
• 1 piece Yellow onion ( finely sliced )
• 2 piece Garlic ( minced )
• 2 piece Carrot ( sliced into rounds )
• 2 piece Potato ( cut into 2cm cubes )
• 1 tbsp Smoked paprika
• 2 piece Bay leaf
• 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
• 1.5 L Mineral water
• 1 pinch Gray sea salt
• 150 g Morcilla (Spanish blood sausage) ( cut into thick slices )

Instructions

1. Browning the meats

   In a pot, heat the olive oil. Brown the chorizo slices and pancetta cubes until the fat melts and colors the bottom of the pot bright red.

2. Sweating the aromatics

   Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and carrot slices. Sauté over medium heat until the onion is translucent and infused with the meat fat.

3. Spices and liquid

   Stir in the smoked paprika. Mix quickly to coat the ingredients without burning the spice. Pour in the mineral water, add the lentils and bay leaves.

4. Simmering and thickening

   Bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Halfway through cooking (about 20 minutes), add the potato cubes and morcilla slices. The potato starch and the texture of the morcilla will naturally thicken the sauce.

5. Finishing

   When the lentils mash easily under the pressure of a spoon and the broth is creamy, season with sea salt. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Chef's tips

• Only salt at the end of cooking: salt hardens the lentil skins and prevents them from becoming tender.
• For an even thicker sauce, mash two pieces of cooked potato against the side of the pot and stir back in.

Storage

Keeps for 3 days in the fridge. The flavor is better the next day once the spices have infused.