Southwest Lentils and Brown Rice

As meat gets more expensive, we have started looking for flavorful and filling vegetarian options. Lentils and brown rice are a really good canvas for a plethora of flavors. This recipe puts a southwestern spin on them. I adapted this from an Instant Pot version I found.

Yield: 4 servings
Time: 40 minutes

¾c green or brown lentils (beluga or du Puy would also work)
¾c brown rice
1 red bell pepper (paprika), diced
4-6 green onions, chopped; reserve the greens
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
750 ml vegetable broth
1 400g can diced tomatoes
1 220g can Poblano chiles, drained and chopped
1 tbsp ground chile (e.g. Ancho)
¼ tsp granulated garlic
¼ tsp granulated onion
½ tsp dried oregano
olive oil, as needed
salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1-2 c grated cheese (e.g. cheddar, gouda)
fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Directions

Add lentils, rice and broth to a saucepan, bring to a boil and lower to a simmer. Combine the ground chili, granulated garlic, granulated onion and dried oregano and mix thoroughly. Mix in half to the simmering rice/lentils. Cover and allow to simmer until cooked, about 30-40 minutes. If liquid dissipates before the rice/lentils are fully cooked, add 100 – 200 ml hot water or broth.

While the rice/lentils are cooking, in a skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, paprika and onions and sweat until soft; 5-10 minutes. Add minced garlic and sweat briefly, 1-2 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, chopped Poblano chiles and remaining ground chili mixture and mix thoroughly. Reduce heat to a low simmer until rice/lentils are cooked.

When rice/lentils are cooked, add them to the tomato mixture and mix thoroughly to combine. Portion into bowls, add grated cheese, onion greens and cilantro (if using) and mix in.

Chef’s Notes

The original recipe I found used a tablespoon of taco seasoning, instead of the ground chili, granulated garlic, granulated onion and dried oregano. In Germany “taco seasoning” is a bit hard to come by, but I have found some good sources for dried chiles, and make taco and chili seasoning myself. If you have taco seasoning, feel free to use it.