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A rustic bowl filled with a healthy lentil soup, showcasing the tender lentils, diced carrots, and celery. A spoon rests in the bowl, ready to eat.

Lentil Soup Recipe: The Best Hearty & Healthy Bowl

This Lentil Soup Recipe is a deeply satisfying, one-pot meal packed with flavor. Learn how to make this easy, healthy, and hearty soup with simple pantry staples for the perfect comforting dinner that the whole family will love.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 285
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 large Onion finely diced
  • 2 medium Carrots finely diced
  • 2 stalks Celery finely diced
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 1 tsp Ground Coriander
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1.5 cups Brown or Green Lentils rinsed and drained
  • 8 cups Vegetable Broth low sodium
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes undrained
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper or to taste
  • 2 cups Fresh Spinach optional
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

Equipment

  • 1 Large Dutch Oven or Stockpot
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Chef's knife

Instructions
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 8-10 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  2. Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, coriander, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to toast the spices.
  3. Add the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and bay leaf. Stir and bring to a boil.
  4. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40-45 minutes until lentils are tender.
  5. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in optional spinach until wilted. Stir in fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Notes

Flavor Boost: For an extra layer of savory flavor, add a parmesan rind to the soup as it simmers. Remove it before serving.
Make it Creamy: For a creamier texture, use an immersion blender to briefly blend a small portion of the soup before serving.
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