Riso e Lenticchie (Italian Rice and Lentils)
A simple one pot dish of rice and green lentils cooked in a soffritto and tomato broth, with wilted spinach and lemon.
Made with Soffritto and Homemade vegetable stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.49 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Warm the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add your ready made soffritto (see the base recipe), the tomato purée and chilli flakes and stir for 2 minutes.
- 2
Add the lentils and your homemade vegetable stock (see the base recipe). Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
15 min - 3
Stir in the brown rice, cover again and cook for 25 minutes more, stirring once or twice, until both lentils and rice are tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
25 min - 4
Fold in the spinach and cook for 1 minute until wilted.
1 min - 5
Stir in the lemon juice, taste and season well.
- 6
Rest for 5 minutes with the lid on, then serve with a drizzle of olive oil.
Tips
- Brown rice and green lentils take about the same time. Use white rice and add it 20 minutes into cooking if you prefer.
- Add extra stock or water if it looks dry before the rice is ready.
- Serve with a spoon of dairy free yoghurt or a squeeze of lemon, and a green salad.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour. Keeps 2 days in the fridge. Reheat rice only once, adding a splash of water, until steaming hot all the way through. Do not leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Questions
Is this a complete meal?
It is filling on its own thanks to the lentils and rice, and goes well with greens or a salad. For a heartier version add a fried egg or a spoon of yoghurt on top.
Can I use red lentils?
They cook much faster and turn soft, giving a porridge-like dish. If using them, add with the rice and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.
More made with soffritto
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
