Vegetarian Alternative to Ground Beef

Bring water to a boil in a pot. Stir lentils into water reduce heat to low and cook at a simmer stirring occasionally until the water is mostly absorbed 25 to 25 minutes. Stir onion garlic paprika bay leaf cumin salt and pepper into the lentils; continue cooking until the water is fully absorbed and the lentils tender 5 to 10 minutes more. Stir olive oil into the lentils. Remove and discard the bay leaf.