Sopa de Lentejas con Carne y Quinua (Lentils, Beef and Quinoa Soup)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 large carrots peeled and sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound of beef cut in bite sized chunks
- ½ pound of lentils picked and rinsed
- 2 to matoes peeled and diced
- 10 cups of beef or vegetable stock
- ½ teaspoon ground achiote
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 medium white potatoes peeled and diced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 cups cooked quinoa or quinua
Instructions
- Place the oil in a large pot and set over medium heat. When it is hot, add the onions, garlic, red bell pepper and carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are tender, about 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add the beef, lentils, tomatoes, broth, achiote, cumin and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook over low heat until the meat and lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes.
- Add the potatoes, cilantro and cooked quinoa. Simmer for about 25-30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
- Add the chopped cilantro and season with salt to your taste. Serve with aji and avocado.
The recipe I am sharing with you today is a gorgeous and hearty Lentils, Beef and Quinoa Soup. This soup is comforting and warming, and is perfect for this time of year. I love cooking with lentils and make several variations of soups with them, as they are versatile and cook fast.
Soups are a staple in the Colombian diet. We love soups so much that we eat them regardless of the outside temperature. Whether it's cold or hot outside, we love our soups! Soup is the answer to most all problems, at least that’s what my mamita and mom would imply when I was a child in Colombia... "If you’re not feeling well, eat your soup. If you want to be tall and cute, eat your soup. If you want to be smart, eat your soup. If you want to have dessert, eat your soup." I suppose these magical powers have something to do with my love for soup!
When I miss my family, am exhausted, or feeling down, I take out a packet of lentils, pick them over for stones and simmer them. Immediately after taking that first spoonful, I feel better!
I enjoy experimenting with flavors and aromas of different vegetables, grains and herbs. This time, while making the soup I spotted a bag of quinoa in the pantry, so I decided to add it to my mom's traditional Sopa de Lentejas con Carne and it was an excellent idea. It was not at all flat in taste, but rather wonderfully flavor intense, so much so that you might need to resist wanting to lick the bowl!
What I love about this dish is that it is versatile, and it can be made using several varieties of lentils, and the beef can be easily substituted with pork, chicken, or chorizo. For a meatless version, you can serve it with a poached egg on top.
I hope you enjoy this soothing soup as much as I did.
Buen provecho!
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
A great soup, like the idea of lentils and quinoa.
Juliana
Looks very hearty and tasty this soup of yours Erica...perfect for the cold weather.
Hope you are having a great week!
Belinda @zomppa
A few of my favorite ingredients all in one hearty bowl!!
kale
wow, 'gorgeous and hearty' are exactly the adjectives i would use to describe this dish. ¡qué rico!
Leah
I'm cooking this tonight and really looking forward to it! Looks delicous!
Joanne
Wow what a healthy soup! Love that you put lentils and quinoa in it!
kitkat
Hi Erica,
I made the same kind of soup but I use chicken tight instead due to the fact I don't eat a lot of red meats. I put a pinch of curry powder and turmeric when I made this recipe because I like it hot.Thank you for sharing our Colombian delicacies.
kitkat
I meant to say chicken thighs 🙂
Lori Lynn
Oh I adore this soup, so homey and rustic. Like the idea of lentils and quinoa together in the soup, and just enough meat, but not too much. Great balance of flavor and color too!
LL
Hector
This looks great just like my mom does it! I'm going to have to try to make it on my own!
Anonymous
Deliciosa, la tienes en espanol tambien?
Marcela Schooley
Deliciosa, la tienes en espanol tambien? Gracias8
Erica Dinho
Pronto!!!
Maritza
Delicious! Since I’m a new mom and I’m always cooking in a hurry, I cooked the beef in the instant pot 20 minutes on high pressure and then added the lentils and vegetables for another 3 minutes on high pressure. Very good!