Description
A hearty and nutritious lentil soup packed with vegetables and aromatic spices, perfect for a comforting meal that’s both satisfying and healthy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup green lentils
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (optional)
Instructions
- Prep vegetables: Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into uniform pieces for even cooking
- Heat and sauté base: Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes
- Add aromatics: Stir in garlic, carrots, and celery; cook until softened, about 5 minutes
- Toast spices: Add cumin and smoked paprika; mix well to coat vegetables and release fragrance
- Add main ingredients: Incorporate lentils and diced tomatoes into the pot, stirring to combine
- Add liquid and simmer: Pour in vegetable broth to cover ingredients; bring to a boil, then reduce heat
- Cook until tender: Cover pot and simmer for about 30 minutes until lentils are tender
- Finish with greens: If using greens, stir in spinach or kale just before serving until wilted
Notes
- Rinse lentils thoroughly before cooking to remove any debris and reduce cooking foam
- Don’t add salt until the end of cooking as it can toughen lentil skins during the cooking process
- For richer flavor, add a parmesan rind during simmering and remove before serving
- For a thicker consistency, mash some lentils against the pot side with your spoon
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 285 calories
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 18g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Comforting Lentil Soup, lentil soup, vegetarian soup, healthy soup, easy soup recipe, comfort food