Spanish Poor Man's Lentil Stew | Lentejas a lo Pobre

📝 Ingredients

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (45 ml)
• 2 small onions (finely chopped)
• 6 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
• 1 tbsp sherry vinegar (15 ml)
• 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika (2.50 grams)
• 3/4 tsp ground cumin (2 grams)
• 1 cup dried green lentils (rinsed) (200 grams)
• 1 liter vegetable broth (4 1/4 cups)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/3 cup Spanish short-grain rice (65 grams)
• sea salt & black pepper
• 4 Spanish guindillas (similar to italian pepperoncini) (optional)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Heat a stockpot with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
2. 2After a couple of minutes, add in the chopped onion and garlic, mix together, and then mix every minute so it all evenly sautés
3. 3Once the onion and garlic are lightly sautéed, about 4 minutes, add in the sherry vinegar, paprika, and cumin, quickly mix together, then add in the lentils, vegetable broth, and bay leaf, turn it up to a high heat and give it a gentle mix
4. 4When the broth comes to a boil, add in the rice, give it a mix, then place a lid on the stockpot and lower the fire to a low heat, simmer for about 20 minutes or until the lentils and rice are just cooked through (check package cooking times on the lentils and rice you are using, and add in more liquid as needed)
5. 5Once the lentils and rice are just cooked through, season with salt & pepper, mix together, then transfer into shallow bowls, and garnish with a Spanish guindilla, similar to an Italian pepperoncini (optional), enjoy!