Soupy Spanish Lentils with Chorizo and Manchego Toast will have you not minding winter! Braised lentils with spicy chorizo sausage kicked up with red wine and Spanish spices and served with crusty bread with melted Manchego cheese is the ultimate winter comfort food!
Love Spanish food? Don't miss my Brown Rice Paella with Shrimp and Chorizo!
The inspiration behind this recipe:
Clearly, it's looking like I'm into lentils lately! Actually, lentils and I go way back. Back to my vegetarian days. They are one of my all-time favorite foods and I always keep a supply of them in the pantry.
Lentils are an inexpensive source of protein and offer many other nutritional benefits such as fiber and iron. Besides the nutrition, they're a culinary blank canvas and take to almost any cuisine such as Indian, French, Greek and of course, Spanish.
When I started to make this dish, I was craving something with lentils and chorizo. I didn't want a stew nor did I want soup. Something in between was called for. I give you Soupy Spanish Lentils with Chorizo and Manchego Toast.
Tips for working with lentils:
It's always a good idea to look over lentils before you cook them as they may contain tiny stones, twigs or other impurities. You don't want to bite down on something like that!
Simply place a handful on a white paper plate and look them over. Then, use the paper plate as a funnel to pour the lentils into whatever dish you're using them in.
The age of the lentils you're using has a lot to do with how fast they cook. Lentils that have been sitting a while will need more time to cook.
Types of chorizo:
There are two different types of chorizo: Fresh uncooked and smoked and dried. Fresh uncooked is actually Mexican. The smoked and dried version is actually Spanish and is better on charcuterie platters or as part of tapas.
Types of Manchego cheese:
And then the Manchego, baby! You'll generally find two types of Manchego--young and aged.
Young Manchego is aged for a short period of time while the other is aged for up to a year. Young manchego is a little less expensive, is slightly softer and is better for melting. I used young Manchego here on a rustic and hearty whole-grain loaf.
How to make Soupy Spanish Lentils with Chorizo and Manchego Toast:
- First, brown the whole sausage links then slice. They won't be cooked all the way through but that's okay--they'll finish cooking with the lentils.
- Cook the vegetables then add 4 cups of the chicken broth. Bring it to a boil and add the lentils, spices and chorizo.
- Simmer until the lentils are tender, adding more chicken broth as necessary to keep a soupy consistency.
- Then butter the bread and top with grated Manchego. Place it under the broiler for a few minutes and voila!
- Garnish with fresh parsley, add the toast and enjoy!
Soupy Spanish Lentils with Chorizo and Manchego Toast! Spicy, hearty, delicious and comforting!
Enjoy!
Want more great lentil recipes? Be sure to check out:
- Southwestern Lentil and Brown Rice Bake
- Thai Red Curry Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup
- Lemony Lentil, Asparagus and Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese
Soupy Spanish Lentils with Chorizo and Manchego Toast
Ingredients
For the Lentils
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound fresh chorizo sausage - approximately 3 large links
- 1 large onion - finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery - finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 jar (12-ounce) roasted red bell peppers in olive oil - drained and coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 4 to 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups brown lentils
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Manchego Toast
- 1 loaf whole-grain rustic bread - cut into 1-inch slices
- 4 tablespoons butter - softened
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 ½ to 2 cups grated "young" Manchego cheese
Instructions
For the Lentils:
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or deep saute pan. Place sausages in the pan and cook 6-7 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate. (Sausages will not be cooked all the way through at this point.)
- Place onion in the hot fat. Reduce heat to medium and cook 7 to 8 minutes or until beginning to soften. Add the celery and cook 4 to 5 minutes more.
- Add the garlic, stir until fragrant. Add the chopped roasted red bell pepper, the tomato paste, the wine and cook 1 minute.
- Add 4 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the lentils, smoked paprika and crushed red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil.
- Slice chorizo into ¼ to ⅓-inch slices. Add to the pan with the lentils.
- Reduce heat, cover slightly and simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until lentils are tender, adding additional chicken broth as needed to maintain a "soupy" consistency. Add red wine vinegar and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Stir in parsley. Let rest while making the toast.
Manchego Toast
- Preheat broiler on high. Combine softened butter and garlic. Spread over the slices of bread then top with grated cheese.
- Place on a baking sheet then place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Jennie says
I made this vegetarian by sautéing a mix of portobello and shiitake mushrooms in a Spanish chorizo spice mix (minced garlic, salt, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, cayenne, and oregano). I also wilted a head of torn kale leaves in the stew at the end. Delicious!!
Carol says
Hi, Jennie, Thanks so much and so happy you enjoyed! Love that you were able to find a way to make it vegetarian and your own. Thanks again!
Tania says
This recipe was easy to make, turned out exactly like the picture and was a hit with my whole family. I will definitely make it again. The toast with manchego was fantastic.
Carol says
Hi, Tania, Thanks so very much and so happy you enjoyed!
Jj says
Phenomenal! To make vegetarian: I used veggie broth instead of chicken; instead of sautéing chorizo at the beginning, I used Trader Joe's soy chorizo as a topping in bowls. The Manchego toasted bread was heavenly. This meal brought us right back to our Madrid and Barcelona trip. Thank you so much! Delicious!
Carol says
Thanks so VERY MUCH! So happy you enjoyed and I love the modifications you made to make this vegetarian. Means a lot to me that it took you back to a special time. Thanks again!!
Cherylynn says
Is there a good substitute to the wine?
Carol says
Hi, Cherylynn, Thanks so much for your question. You could add another cup or so of broth and add red wine vinegar if you're okay with that. Any alcohol that remains in wine vinegar is a trace amount. Another good non-alcoholic option is pomegranate juice. You may not need a whole cup of pomegranate juice so taste it and see. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Cherylynn says
Thank you Carol. You are always so good about answering questions and responding. I know I will definitely enjoy it as all your recipes are top-notch.
Carol says
So appreciate that! Thank you!
Kim says
Hi there. Do I cool the lentils first? I’m sorry I don’t understand. This looks amazing! Thanks
Carol says
Hi, Kim, Thanks so much for your question but not sure I quite understand. No, you wouldn't cool anything. Keep it hot while you're making the toast which doesn't take that long. Thanks again and hope that helps!
Kim says
I’m sorry. That was cook the lentils. Thanks 😊
Carol says
Hi, Kim, You cook the lentils in with everything else. See Instruction #4. After you add the chicken broth, you then add the lentils, spices, etc. Hope you enjoy!
Val says
Great recipe, great taste. But actually, there IS fresh Spanish chorizo and that’s what my family has always added to lentejas.
Carol says
Hi, Val, Thanks so much and so glad you enjoyed! That's great to know there is such a thing as fresh Spanish chorizo; I will start to look for it. Thanks again!
Krissy says
Where do you find fresh Spanish Chorizo? Also, I couldn’t tell from the recipe but it seems she just used Mexican fresh chorizo. Is this correct?
Carol says
Hi, Krissy, Thanks for your question. Yes, I used the Mexican fresh chorizo; I haven't heard of FRESH Spanish chorizo. I used the fresh Mexican chorizo because I didn't feel that the dried nature of Spanish would be right with the tender soft texture of cooked lentils. If you can find it, please let me know. Thanks again!
claude says
Excellent, thanks! I did add a small portion of soppressata for extra flavour.
Carol says
Thanks so much, Claude! Glad you enjoyed!
Kristen says
In 2018 my mom and I did the Camino de Santiago and ate a lot of lentil soup along the way. Your recipe takes me back to one of the best times of my life 😁. Thank you 😁
Carol says
Hi, Kristen, Thanks so very much and what a nice thing to say! It is MUCH appreciated! Thanks again!
Barb Clough says
Loved this - swapped out some ingredients (just used what I had) - regular paprika, can of petite diced tomatoes for the wine. Omitted red pepper flakes and added a can of white beans (navy beans). The Manchego toast was awesome!!