Chilean Lentil Soup

Versión en español

Chilean lentil soup with rice and chorizo is a traditional Chilean winter dish. Each family has its version like all these ancient dishes, so feel free to adapt this recipe as you like best. In my family, it has always been with potatoes and rice, lentils and chorizo, sometimes they also added chard or spinach, and I know of families where they add tomato.

The sofrito is essential. Hopefully, you do the sofrito with Chilean Color (lard and sweet paprika), and there you brown the onion, carrot, celery, bell pepper, and garlic.

Two popular options to serve the Chilean lentil soup are Parmesan cheese and mashed hard-boiled eggs. And if you have leftovers, you can easily transform them on a cream of lentils using the blender. Serve with crutons.

Lentils from previous years’ harvests take longer to cook, and it’s best to cook them ahead of time. To cook the lentils the night before, leave them in a bowl covered with cold water. The next day, remove any pebbles. Strain the lentils and cook them in a pot with cold water and salt. Once it comes to a boil, lower the heat and taste after 20 minutes. Cook until soft.

Chilean Lentil Soup

• Author: Pilar Hernandez
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Yield: 4
• Category: Soups
• Cuisine: Chilean

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Description

A traditional Chilean soup.

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Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Chilean color or vegetable oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 celery sticks finely chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped into small cubes
• 1/2 bell pepper, any color, chopped into small cubes
• 2 sausages cut into 1 cm slices.
• 1/2 cup raw rice, ideally short grain
• 1 large or 2 medium potato, peeled, cubed 
• 1 cup raw green or brown lentils
• 1/2 bundle of chard about 8 leaves cut stems and leaves or a bundle of spinach without stems, optional
• salt and pepper

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Instructions

1. Soak the lentils in plenty of cold water the night before, discard stones or damaged lentils. Strain.
2. Heat the oil, in a medium pot, over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. 
3. Add the carrot, celery, bell pepper, and garlic, brown for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
   
4. Add the sausages and rice and stir for 1 minute.
   
5. Add the lentils and potatoes, stir well. Add 2-3 cups of cold water, season with salt and pepper.
   
6. Cook over low heat, simmering for 20 minutes. Test that the lentils and rice are cooked.
   
7. Add the chopped chard or spinach and cook for 5 more minutes.
8. Add more water as many times as necessary. You want it always to be covered by a thin layer of water on top, like 1 cm.
   
9. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
10. Serve hot.
    

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Keywords: Chilean lentil soup, lentil soup