Smoky Lentil Stew With Leeks and Potatoes

Smoky Lentil Stew With Leeks and Potatoes
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour
Rating
4(5,635)
Notes
Read community notes

Rustic with deep flavor, this stew improves after a day in the fridge. Make the whole recipe, and eat it over several days — or freeze it for later. If you can’t get small Spanish Pardina lentils or French lentilles du Puy, use any size green or brown lentil. (Carnivores may want to add chorizo or jamón.) The stew is rather brothy at first, but thickens upon sitting. Thin with a little water when reheating, as necessary. For optimum results, be sure to use fruity, zesty-tasting extra virgin olive oil — it really makes a difference.

Featured in: The Many Lives of Lentils

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings
  • cups small lentils, such as Pardina or Puy (12 ounces), or use any size green or brown lentil
  • 1medium onion, halved, plus 2 bay leaves and 2 whole cloves
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 4 or 5medium potatoes, peeled and sliced ¾-inch thick
  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2medium leeks, white and tender green parts, chopped in ½-inch pieces
  • 1teaspoon chopped garlic
  • 1large thyme or rosemary sprig
  • 2tablespoons pimentón dulce or smoked sweet paprika
  • teaspoon ground cayenne, or to taste
  • Small pinch of saffron (about 12 strands), soaked in ¼ cup cold water
  • 1cup chopped canned tomato with juice
  • 2tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • Chopped parsley (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

397 calories; 8 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 68 grams carbohydrates; 11 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 17 grams protein; 733 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Rinse lentils. Put them in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed pot and add 8 cups water. Pin a bay leaf to each onion half using a whole clove and add to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, add a large pinch of salt, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook with lid ajar for about 30 minutes, until soft. Turn off heat.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to boil, and cook the potato slices until just done, about 10 minutes, then drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool.

  3. Step 3

    Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is wavy, add leeks and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Let leeks cook briskly, stirring frequently until soft but still bright green, about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn heat to medium, stir in chopped garlic, thyme, pimentón and cayenne.

  4. Step 4

    Add saffron and soaking water, the chopped tomato and vinegar. Turn heat to high and let everything simmer for a few minutes. Pour contents of skillet into Dutch oven with lentils. Add the reserved potatoes.

  5. Step 5

    Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook covered with lid ajar for about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then cook for 10 more minutes. The lentils will be quite soft and the potatoes will start to break. Discard onion and thyme sprig.

  6. Step 6

    Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley, if you wish.

Ratings

4 out of 5
5,635 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

Good flavor combinations, but seriously, 3 different pots? This needs exactly one pot. Cook onions, add potatoes and lentils, and other ingredients, and done.

Did all in one pot. Added six carrots, one yellow pepper. Used a little less than two tablespoons of Smoked paprika (two not quite full spoons). Used can of roasted tomatoes. Used coconut vinegar instead of sherry vinegar. Used dried thyme. Used Aleppo pepper instead of cayenne. Started with 1/8 teaspoon and ended up sprinkling more. Two cloves of garlic. Started with leaks. Added garlic. Then carrots. Then can of tomatoes. Then potatoes. Then lentils. Instead of 8 cups of water, I used 4

Nice, very flavorful stew. A few things: 1) I like stewed onions. Why would I remove one? It's delicious. 2) I'm done with discarding the green part of leeks, especially in stews. I pay by the lb for these things, so why throw them out? Trim off the frayed parts, Wash them. Slice thinly, and include with the rest. They're delicious. 3) Why peel the potatoes? 4) The saffron. I had it, so I included it. It was lost in this dish. I'll omit it next time. And, there will be a next time.

What would be a good substitute for the saffron?

The different pots let you control the cooking of the potatoes - otherwise, it's trickier to get the right cook on the potatoes without making the lentils mush. And you have to saute the leeks and spices and tomatoes to bloom the flavors, so I DO think the three pans are justified. I used Yukon Golds, but next time I will try Russets, which will break apart in a more satisfying way. Go big with the paprika and saffron and DEFINITELY use your best olive oil to finish. A solid keeper. And vegan!

Also modified cooking order to minimize pots and pans. Added some sweet peppers to the leeks. Definitely double vinegar. Would probably reduce water and increase tomatoes next time. Added tomato paste and fish sauce to bump up the umami. Salt aggressively; the potatoes demand it. A fine recipe for riffing, but would not prepare as written.

I cooked onions and spices in oil first to release flavors, then added lentils and liquid, then potatoes, all in one pot.

This looks absolutely delicious, but before I make it, I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a good zesty fruity olive oil.

This was the perfect winter dinner! Repurposed the leftovers as such - stew into a 9x9 baking dish, covered with a sheet of store bought puff pastry (a staple in our freezer), brushed egg onto the pastry and baked in a 425 degree oven until golden and served with an arugula salad. The review from my house was this elevated an already delicious dish.

Used one pot. 1/2 onion chopped 1 leek. Added spices, new potatoes (halved), 6 carrots and lentils, tomatoes. 6 c water. Substituted oregano for the bay leaf and chipotle powder instead of cayenne.Set the heat at medium low and headed out to the neighborhood Halloween parade. 45 min later it was ready and so good. This will be a keeper.

Made this in the instant pot. Sautéed leeks, onions then spices and garlic, added everything then manual for 10 min. I think it would be better with broth than 8c water. I ended up adding some bouillon, salt, and tomato paste at the end (because I used water).

We really loved this recipe as written. I was able to swing cooking it in the morning, so we let it sit all day before reheating in the evening. It was delicious, and I will make it many more times this winter- very warming and incredibly satisfying for a vegan dish! The chunky potatoes are an especially nice touch. Pay attention to your salt and pepper and taste along the way. And don’t skip the olive oil drizzle. A dollop of tangy dairy would also work very well here IMHO.

Made this many times, and used Instant Pot. Sauteed the onion, leeks, and garlic in olive oil, and then added the rest of the ingredients except for the paprika and the saffron. Pressure cooked in the Instant Pot for 12 minutes on high. Then added the paprika and saffron just before serving. Delicious!

For that smokey spicy flavour, here it's easier to get/use some piment d'Alep, plus regular or Hungarian paprika.

great hearty meal with a salad and crusty bread. Followed recipe but paid attention to the notes: used 4 Cups water; doubled the sherry vinegar, generous with the garlic, left the onion in. I would use a little less potatoes next time . Enjoy

Basically start with steps 3 and 4

Perfect as written, except I kicked up the cayenne a bit for my crew and added some chopped ham. Definitely will be on a regular rotation both with and without added meat.

Terrific stew! A big hit with the family. I added some chopped carrots for a bit of sweetness and veggie chorizo for a meaty addition, while staying true to veggie intent.

Honestly, I don't understand how so many delicious ingredients can add up to a bland, boring stew. I don't see any way to save this one. Skip it.

2large leeks is enough; don’t need to add the onion too. Cooked in the soup pot instead of using 3 pots - sauté leeks, add water, lentils and other ingredients except the potato and cook 20 mins. Add potato.

I made it exactly as written, except I added a couple bites of well-browned sweet Italian sausage. Crazy delicious on a chilly wet night, especially with some nice fat toasty chunks of country bread to dip into it.

A wonderful winter soup!

Happily surprised by this tasty recipe. Not usually a lentil person but really liked this smoky, rich stew. Substituted leftover roasted Yukon gold potatoes, used a full can of tomatoes, and added a carrot and extra garlic.

Do you think you could use Ruttabaga rather than potato?

Has anyone tried this with daikon instead of potatoes?

I love this stew and have made it a few times and now love to add chicken sausage and crumble blue cheese. Delicious

Good flavor combinations, but seriously, 3 different pots? This needs exactly one pot. Cook onions, add potatoes and lentils, and other ingredients, and done. Did all in one pot. Added six carrots, one yellow pepper. Used a little less than two tablespoons of Smoked paprika (two not quite full spoons). Used can of roasted tomatoes. Used coconut vinegar instead of sherry vinegar. Used dried thyme. Used Aleppo pepper instead of cayenne. Started with 1/8 teas

Gave it a try. Came out dryer than we thought. The paprika taste was strong, which we ended up mellowing using some sour cream. Didn't use, but definitely should use chorizo. We'll see how it does for lunch tomorrow.

This surely would have been better using veg or chicken stock, but as written is merely good- hearty enough, but not one I will make again- there are just too many good lentil soups out there.

OMG this was good!! Halved the recipe and cooked the lentils until all the liquid was gone and had to add a half a can of water to the stew. Didn't matter because this was delicious. Like OMG this was delicious. I'm stuffed and I want to go back for more. When I make this again I'm going to cut the potatoes into chunks instead of big slices as that will make it easier to eat but this is a keeper. So so good.

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