This spreadable vegetarian pâté combines the earthy flavors of lentils, mushrooms, and onion with some smoky paprika for a Spanish twist. It’s a versatile recipe you can use as a dip for vegetables, or spread on a toasted baguette and topped with poached eggs for breakfast.

What to buy: Red lentils actually are more orange than red. They can be found in the bulk section of many grocery stores or at Middle Eastern markets. If you have cooked lentils on hand, you’ll need about 1 3/4 cups for this recipe.

  • Yield: 2 cups
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 40 mins

Ingredients (13)

  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3/4 cup dried red lentils
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/4 cups)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cremini mushrooms (about 5 medium mushrooms)
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 1 teaspoon)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons sherry vinegar

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the lentils, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Drain through a fine-mesh strainer and let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
  2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and mushrooms, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and start to brown, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the paprika, oregano, black pepper, and bay leaf and stir to coat the onion mixture. Add the white wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits sticking to the pan. Simmer until the wine has reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Discard the bay leaf and transfer the mixture to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade. Add the cooked lentils and vinegar, season generously with salt, and process until mostly smooth, with some small pieces remaining, about 1 minute. Taste, season with additional salt and pepper as needed, and pulse to combine. Spoon into an airtight container and place in the refrigerator to cool. Serve over toast points or in our Red Lentil Pâté Bruschetta with Poached Eggs recipe.