Hearty Lentil Soup
Hearty Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- •2 tablespoon olive oil
- •1 yellow onion, large, diced
- •2 carrots, medium, peeled and diced
- •2 celery stalks, diced
- •3 garlic cloves, minced
- •1.5 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
- •6 cup vegetable broth
- •14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
- •1 bay leaf
- •1 teaspoon dried thyme
- •0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- •0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- • to taste salt
- • to taste black pepper, freshly ground
- •1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or lemon juice
- •0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1.
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- 2.
Add the minced garlic, dried thyme, ground cumin, and smoked paprika (if using). Cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- 3.
Stir in the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, undrained diced tomatoes, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- 4.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- 5.
Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- 6.
Stir in the red wine vinegar or lemon juice just before serving. This adds a bright finish to the soup.
- 7.
Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Tips
- 💡For a thicker soup, you can mash about 1/4 of the cooked lentils against the side of the pot with a spoon or an immersion blender before serving.
- 💡This soup tastes even better the next day! It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- 💡Hearty Lentil Soup freezes beautifully. Allow it to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
- 💡Feel free to add other vegetables like diced potatoes (add with lentils) or a handful of fresh spinach (stir in during the last 5 minutes of cooking).
Recipe from TheCookbook.ai
Created by Basil Roux