olla express Vegetarian

Stewed Lentils with Vegetables in Pressure Cooker

Name: Stewed Lentils with Vegetables in Pressure Cooker
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: 🇪🇸 España
Ingredients: 250g green lentils; 1 large onion; 2 cloves garlic; 2 medium carrots; 1 green bell pepper; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon ground bay leaf; to taste salt and black pepper; 2 liters water

📍 🇪🇸 España

⏱️Prep: 20 min

🔥Cook: 20 min

⏰Total: 40 min

🍽️4 servings

● Difficulty: Easy

A comforting, flavor‑packed dish where tender lentils mingle with fresh vegetables and spices, creating a thick, delicious stew. The aroma of bay leaf and paprika fills the kitchen, announcing that the meal is ready. I love how the lentils, with their soft texture and slightly sweet taste, pair perfectly with the smoky bite of paprika and the freshness of the vegetables.

The first time I tried this stew was in a small tavern in northern Spain, where the cook—a woman passionate about traditional cuisine—explained that the secret to a good lentil stew lies in the quality of the ingredients and the patience to let the flavors meld and intensify during cooking. Since then, I’ve become a big fan of this dish, and whenever I can, I try to make it at home, using my pressure cooker to speed up the process while achieving an equally delicious result.

One of the things I love most about this stew is its versatility. You can serve it as a main course, accompanied by crusty bread or a fresh salad, or as a side dish for meat or fish. It’s also an economical and healthy dish, since lentils are an excellent source of protein and fiber, and the vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals. This lentil stew has it all: flavor, texture, versatility, and nutrients. What more could you ask for?

🛒 Ingredients

4 servings

250g green lentils
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
2 medium carrots
1 green bell pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground bay leaf
to taste salt and black pepper
2 liters water

👨‍🍳 Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Rinse the lentils and soak them for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, dice the onion, garlic, carrots, and bell pepper into small pieces.
Step 2: Heat a little oil in the pressure cooker and sauté the onion and garlic until golden. Add the carrots and bell pepper, and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add the drained lentils, paprika, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Pour in the water and close the pressure cooker.
Step 4: Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. Allow the pressure cooker to release pressure naturally.

💡 Chef's tip

To keep the lentils tender, it’s essential to soak them before cooking. Also, the paprika and bay leaf give an authentic flavor of Castilian cuisine.

📝 Our take

This stewed lentils with vegetables recipe is a clear example of the richness and simplicity of Spanish cooking. Every spoonful is a journey through flavors and textures that invite you to have another serving. The key lies in the quality of the ingredients and the patience while cooking, allowing each element to meld into a harmonious flavor profile. When you taste it, you’ll understand why this dish has been a classic for generations: it’s the taste of tradition and family.

🍷 Wine & food pairing

Serve with a young red wine from the Ribera del Duero DO, whose ripe fruit and soft tannins perfectly complement the richness of the stew. This pairing balances the dish’s richness with the wine’s freshness, creating a complete gastronomic experience.