Vegetarian Classic Picadillo

Delight your taste buds with this hearty and flavorful Vegetarian Classic Picadillo, a plant-based twist on the traditional Latin American comfort food. Packed with protein-rich lentils, vibrant bell peppers, and the sweet-savory contrast of raisins and pimento-stuffed green olives, this dish is a textured and aromatic masterpiece. Infused with bold spices like cumin, smoked paprika, and a hint of cinnamon, every bite is layered with warm, comforting flavors. Ready in just an hour, this one-pot wonder is perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy family meals. Serve it with rice, tortillas, or simply enjoy it on its own as a satisfying vegetarian main course.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried green or brown lentils
• 3 cups water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 15 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 bay leaf
• 0.5 cup raisins
• 0.5 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the lentils in cold water and drain. In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add the diced green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and carrot to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 more minutes.

Step 4

Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then add the canned diced tomatoes (including juices), ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground cinnamon, and bay leaf. Mix well.

Step 5

Add the cooked lentils, raisins, and olives to the skillet and stir to combine all ingredients. Season with salt and black pepper.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper, if needed.

Step 8

Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro before serving. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2125.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1793.5

Total Fat 66.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 12.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.3g
Cholesterol 8.5mg	0%
Sodium 4963.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 257.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 46.9g	0%
Total Sugars 89.9g
Protein 66.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 514.0mg	0%
Iron 25.4mg	0%
Potassium 4241.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 31.5%

Protein: 14.0%

Carbs: 54.5%