Lentil Rice with Spanish Brown Rice Recipe

Introduction

Lentil Rice is a comforting and hearty dish combining nutritious green lentils with flavorful Spanish brown rice. It’s a perfect meal that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights or meal prep.

Ingredients

• 1 cup green lentils
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, sliced vertically
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 4 slices of Jalapeno
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Juice of 1-2 limes
• 2 cups Spanish rice

For The Spanish Brown Rice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
• 1 cup long-grain brown rice, rinsed under water
• 1/4 cup brown onion, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup low-sodium tomato sauce
• 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse the brown rice under cold water in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear to remove excess starch and prevent clumping during cooking.
2. Step 2: Heat the olive or avocado oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely minced brown onion and cook for about 2 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in the rinsed brown rice and cook with the onion for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the rice starts to turn golden brown.
4. Step 4: Add the tomato sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried parsley to the rice mixture. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
5. Step 5: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the pot with a lid.
6. Step 6: Let the rice simmer gently for 20 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
7. Step 7: Remove the pot from the heat and leave it covered for another 10 minutes to allow the rice to finish steaming and absorb the flavors.
8. Step 8: Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
9. Step 9: Meanwhile, cook the lentils in chicken broth with sliced onion, minced garlic, chopped tomatoes, jalapeno slices, and ground cumin until tender.
10. Step 10: Finish the lentils by stirring in the lime juice to brighten the flavors. Serve the lentils over or alongside the Spanish rice.

Tips & Variations

• For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
• Add chopped fresh cilantro on top for a fresh finish.
• Adjust jalapeno slices to your preferred spice level or omit them if you prefer no heat.
• You can prepare rice and lentils separately ahead of time and combine when ready to serve.

Storage

Store any leftover lentil rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to keep the rice moist.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use red or brown lentils instead of green lentils?

Yes, you can substitute red or brown lentils, but cooking times may vary slightly. Red lentils tend to cook faster and become softer, so monitor closely to avoid overcooking.

Is it necessary to rinse the brown rice before cooking?

Rinsing the rice removes excess surface starch, which helps prevent the grains from sticking together and results in fluffier rice. It is a recommended step for best texture.

Lentil Rice with Spanish Brown Rice Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 115 reviews

Delicious and hearty Lentil Rice featuring green lentils cooked in chicken broth with aromatic spices and vegetables, paired with flavorful Spanish brown rice toasted to perfection and simmered with tomato sauce and spices. A comforting, protein-rich dish with a perfect balance of textures and tangy lime juice that brightens every bite.

• Author: Elias
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 60 minutes
• Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Latin American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Lentil Mixture

• 1 cup green lentils
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, sliced vertically
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 4 slices of Jalapeno
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Juice of 1–2 limes
• 2 cups Spanish rice

Spanish Brown Rice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
• 1 cup long-grain brown rice, rinsed under water
• 1/4 cup brown onion, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup low-sodium tomato sauce
• 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

1. Prepare the rice: Add the rinsed brown rice to a fine mesh strainer and run under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch for fluffier rice.
2. Toast onion and rice: Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery (celery mentioned in instructions but missing from ingredients, assume 1/4 cup finely diced celery) and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in the brown rice with the onion and celery and cook another 3-4 minutes until the rice turns golden brown, enhancing the flavor.
3. Add spices and tomato sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried parsley (parsley mentioned in instructions but missing from ingredients; estimate 1 teaspoon dried parsley) to combine well with the toasted rice mixture.
4. Simmer rice: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and stir. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes or until the liquid has absorbed.
5. Steam rice: Remove pot from heat but keep the lid on, letting the rice steam for about 10 minutes. This resting time lets the rice fully absorb flavors and finish cooking gently.
6. Fluff rice: Use a fork to fluff the brown rice gently to separate the grains and integrate the tomato sauce evenly.
7. Cook lentils and other ingredients: In a separate pot, combine green lentils, chicken broth, sliced onion, minced garlic, chopped Roma tomatoes, jalapeno slices, and ground cumin. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, about 25-30 minutes.
8. Combine lime juice and lentil mixture: Stir the juice of 1-2 limes into the cooked lentil mixture to add brightness and balance flavors.
9. Assemble the dish: Serve the cooked lentil mixture over or mixed with the prepared Spanish brown rice to create a wholesome, savory Lentil Rice dish.

Notes

• Rinsing the rice thoroughly is essential to prevent clumping and stickiness.
• To enhance flavor, celery is added during the toasting step although not listed in ingredients; finely diced celery around 1/4 cup is recommended.
• Dried parsley is suggested in the instructions but missing in ingredients; 1 teaspoon dried parsley can be added.
• If preferred, vegetable broth can substitute chicken broth to make the dish vegetarian.
• Adjust jalapeno slices according to desired spice level.
• Letting the rice rest covered after cooking improves texture by allowing steam to finish the cooking process.
• The lime juice added at the end balances the earthiness of lentils with zesty acidity.

Keywords: Lentil rice, Spanish brown rice, healthy rice recipe, lentil stew, one-pot meal, tomato rice, cumin lentils