Spanish Lentil Salad with Shrimp and Manchego

This salad is all about the lentils—be sure to check them every few minutes during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking to ensure they don’t overcook. They should be tender but retain their shape.

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Servings 4

Ingredients

1½ cups green French lentils
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
3 ounces dried chorizo finely chopped
1 yellow onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 stalk celery finely chopped
1 small fennel bulb quartered, cored, and finely chopped
Leaves from 2 to 3 sprigs thyme chopped
2 teaspoons smoked paprika divided
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar divided
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1¼ pounds large shrimp peeled and deveined
2 teaspoons grapeseed canola, or other neutral oil
2 heads frisée white and light green parts only, torn into bite-size pieces
4 ounces Manchego cheese shaved

Instructions

Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chorizo and cook until lightly seared and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add celery and fennel and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme and 1 teaspoon paprika and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lentils and 2 teaspoons vinegar. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add a splash of olive oil, if dry. Keep mixture warm.
Toss shrimp with remaining 1 teaspoon paprika. Warm grapeseed oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook until lightly seared and opaque, about 2 minutes per side.
Toss frisée with remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season to taste.
Divide lentils among 4 plates. Top with shrimp and frisée, then scatter Manchego on top. Serve immediately.