My Spanish lentils have been known to turn any lentil hater into a lentil lover. Read on for my authentic Spanish recipe!
The first time I tried Spanish lentejas con chorizo I was studying abroad in Granada. My host mom, Josefina, served me a heaping plate of hot lentil soup, and proceeded to add a healthy splash of sherry vinegar. My first bite of Josefina's lentejas was memorable-- she wasn't a great cook, but her lentils were one of the best things I ate during my time in Granada!
Good Spanish lentejas are hearty yet light-- they don't make you feel heavy and sleepy after eating them. The splash of vinegar or pickled toppings is a must in my opinion, as is using a small quantity of excellent quality chorizo (I like spicy chorizo from León -- but any will do).
Every Spanish household has its own lentejas con chorizo recipe, and the variations are endless (as are the varieties of Spanish lentils themselves!). The following recipe is my go-to for a simple Spanish lentil soup. I make my lentejas in big batches and freeze the leftovers.
I learned this technique for Spanish lentils while attending culinary school in Spain. It uses two pots instead of only one... but I think the couple of extra steps are totally worth it. My Spanish husband has been eating lentil soups for nearly forty years now -- and he claims these are the best he's ever had!
More Hearty Spanish Stews
If you like lentils, bookmark these recipes for next time!
- Chicken and Chorizo Stew: This simple one-pot meal is a mid-week favorite at my house.
- Quick Spanish Fabada Stew: One of Spain's most famous white bean and pork stews.
- Spanish Bull Tail Stew (Rabo de Toro): A classic Spanish dish made with oxtail these days.
- Easy Catalan Fish Stew: I love the mix of seafood in this traditional recipe from Catalonia.
Spanish Lentil Stew
Lentejas con Chorizo Recipe (Simple Spanish Lentil Soup)
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried lentils in Spain there are many types, but use brown or green lentils for this dish, rinsed
- 12 cups 3 quarts of chicken stock (you can also use water, or half stock and half water)
- 1 stalk of celery cut into inch long pieces
- Aromatics of choice rosemary, thyme, bay leaf, black peppercorn
- 1 ham bone
- 1 large link of chorizo semi-cured if possible to find -- about 160g
- Olive oil
- 4 medium onions finely diced
- 3 large carrots small dice
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons ñora pasta this is a roasted red pepper paste -- substitute a mashed roasted red pepper if you can't find it.
- 3 cups of crushed tomatoes drained
Instructions
- Rinse your lentils and look them over carefully for pebbles or debris.
- Since cooking the lentils is what takes the longest, start by covering them with cold water or stock and bringing to a simmer.
- Add the celery, aromatics, and ham bone and simmer as you prepare the sofrito (the lentils should take about 40 minutes to cook, though this depends on the variety - taste them often so that they don't overcook and become mushy).
- Cut ¾ of the chorizo into rounds, place them in a heavy frying pan and turn up the heat. Sear the chorizo on each side, allowing the fat to render.
- Remove the chorizo from the pan and reserve for later. Mince the uncooked ¼ of the chorizo for later use as well.
- In the pan with the chorizo grease, add ¼ cup of olive oil over a medium heat
- Add the onions and cook slowly until starting to brown (about 7 minutes)
- Add the carrots and cook another 5 minutes or so, until everything is cooked through and golden
- Add the garlic for another couple of minutes
- Add the tomatoes, minced chorizo, tomato paste and roasted pepper paste
- Cook over medium heat, stirring, until completely reduced to a paste (sofrito)
- Add this sofrito mixture to the lentils, and simmer together until all of the flavors are well combined. Taste the lentils often to make sure you don't overcook them.
- Once cooked through, remove the aromatics and the celery from the pot and let the soup sit, uncovered, for as long as you can wait (the longer, the better combined the flavors will be)
- Serve hot and top with the seared chorizo and some pickled peppers if you can get them!
- Enjoy your homemade lentejas con chorizo!
- Tip: if you like a thicker version, remove a couple of ladles of lentils before adding the sofrito (make sure they're cooked through) and run this through the blender until smooth. Add back to the soup for a thicker version.
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This recipe was originally published on March 20, 2018. It was updated with new photos and text on October 20, 2020.
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What do you think? Is Spanish lentil soup something you'll be making this season?
Jkc
Hi, you mentioned a vegetarian twist, but I can't see it in the recipe? Thanks
Lauren Aloise
Hi there! Simply omit the chorizo and add some extra paprika (will give you the same smokiness) to taste. Enjoy!
Charlie Baker
Bar El Lacón used to serve lentils once a week as part of their menú del dÃa. I stopped by often to have those lentils.
Chris S
What exactly do you mean by a ham bone? A cooked ham bone stripped of meat? A ham joint with bone in?
Lauren Aloise
Here is some info. https://www.thekitchn.com/cheap-easy-flavor-smoked-ham-bone-ingredient-spotlight-179598
Sel Runn
we love the black lentils. More flavor, more nutrition as well. My lentils are cooked with chili sauce i make with dried pods. Four different kinds. The sofrito you speak of is also very important, lots of caramelized onions. Roasted red peppers i do in my kitchen. As for the tomatoes, no cans here. Fresh cut up along with fresh (more) onions and garlic. We love to use fresh green bell peppers in the sofito. For a little more flavor just before serving, a dash of champagne vinegar. And in the end garlic bread with fresh roasted garlic and butter combined with minced parsley Slathered on the bread and baked til drenched. What a simple nutritious meal on a cold day.
Frank Teixeira
Love lentil soup. In my version, I add a little morcilla rather than the ground up chorizo. I like the idea of a pickled pepper and will try that addition when I make it sometime this week, although it has been over 70F here in Florida.