Smoky Lentil Stew With Leeks and Potatoes Recipe (2024)

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Vince

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

lynn

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

TCB

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.

Suzanne

What would be a good substitute for the saffron?

Mo

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!

Nytasha

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.

Rosabird

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

Mardee

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

Carina

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.

sli

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.

Ashley

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).

Marissa

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.

Kalpana

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!

Karen in Montreal

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

Joel

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

Katiemcraepdx

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.

Ed S

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.

DawnB

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.

ck

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.

Dish

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.

Holli

A wonderful winter soup!

pauline

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.

Trudi

Do you think you could use Ruttabaga rather than potato?

bilfro

Has anyone tried this with daikon instead of potatoes?

Mags

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

peter franks

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

bsj40052

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.

susan

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.

Julia

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.

BN

Could you substitute sweet potatoes?

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Smoky Lentil Stew With Leeks and Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my leek and potato soup gloopy? ›

Some recommend that you keep blending to a minimum in order to improve the texture, while others use a very low proportion of potatoes to liquid to keep things looser, but the fact remains that no matter how few potatoes you use and no matter how briefly you pulse, any degree of blending will turn a potato soup gluier ...

Do lentils thicken a broth? ›

You'll find that the lentils mostly breakdown and naturally thicken the soup. But what I like to do to get a really luscious creamy texture is to give the soup a quick whizz with a blender stick (or transfer a couple of cups to the blender) to puree SOME but not all the lentils.

Why is my lentil soup so thick? ›

If things get a bit too thick: Often times lentil (or other bean soups) will substantially thicken up, especially overnight; if this happens and the soup becomes a bit too thick, simply thin it out with a little water or stock.

How do you keep leek and potato soup from getting gluey? ›

Sear or roast your potatoes to prevent gummy soup

Searing or roasting your potatoes does more than just add extra flavor to your soup. It can actually prevent your broth from becoming gluey.

How do you fix slimy leek and potato soup? ›

It turns out, then, that contrary to internet opinion, it is possible to redeem your potato leek soup if somehow it becomes gluey. Ladle some into a freezer bag, freeze it flat, thaw it, and pour off the water.

Is lentil soup good for your stomach? ›

Support your digestive system

Lentils are rich in a type of fiber that helps your digestive system work as it should and fuels good bacteria in your gut. Fiber may also help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. “Fiber plays an important role in regulating our bowels and protecting the immune system,” says Homan.

What can you add to lentils to make them taste better? ›

You can also add salt, aromatics like a halved onion, herbs, and spices to the pot before the lentils and the water, like beans, or wait until they're done cooking to flavor them.

Can you use onions with leeks? ›

A fresh and light combination of sauteed onions, leeks and peas is one that is guaranteed to add a nice touch of green to your plate. A healthy side dish, packed with simple ingredients, delicious flavour, with an additional bonus of an astonishing amount of natural protein in the peas!

Can you leave potato and leek soup out overnight? ›

It's really not a good idea to leave it out at room temperature. I've left stock on the stove overnight at a simmer with the lid on. This keeps it hot enough that microbes won't grow but traps evaporation so it can't go dry. It is ok to put the soup in the refrigerator in a fresh room temperature container, covered.

Is it OK to reheat leek and potato soup? ›

Reheat the soup to a gentle simmer (add some extra stock at this point if the soup is too thick for your liking), then pour into warmed bowls. Drizzle the remaining cream over each serving, top with a little pile of buttered leeks and a scattering of chives and black pepper and serve at once.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

Yes, you can overcook lentils; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

Why does my lentil soup taste bland? ›

Not adding any aromatics to the pot.

Add aromatics to the water or, even better, use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water. Follow this tip: Add a few cloves of garlic, a bay leaf, a spring of rosemary, half of an onion, or a combination of these aromatics to the cooking water or stock to help flavor the lentils.

Can you eat too many lentils in soup? ›

Eating half a cup of cooked lentils gives you lots of essential nutrients and their high fiber content makes you feel full. However, the fiber in lentils can be hard for your body to break down. Eating too many lentils can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.

How do you fix gooey potato soup? ›

You need to dilute by a five parts or so Take a quarter of the soup (a cup full) and dilute it with 5 cups of ideally milk, or otherwise stock or water. You will also need quite a lot of salt and pepper - taste as you go. Reheat, but don't boil if you can avoid it.

Why is potato soup gluey? ›

If you've ever tried potato leek soup and found it to have a gluey texture, it's because the potatoes released too much starch from being over handled. This is unfortunately easy to do with a food processor or blender (heck, it can even happen when making mashed potatoes, which is why I avoid using an electric mixer).

Why is my soup gelatinous? ›

When you simmer a fresh chicken — complete with bones, skin, and meat — you extract the collagen from the bones. This collagen in the bones is what is causing your soup to gel. It's completely natural, and it only happens in rich, well-made chicken stock. It can be a little freaky, though, if you're not expecting it!

Why are my leeks slimy? ›

The young Leek Moth caterpillars burrow within the leaf, leaving brownish-white patches on the outer parts of the leek. As they get bigger, they invade deeper into the core of the leek, causing more significant damage and causing rotting which leads to slimy yellow leaves and the collapse of the plant.

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