Description
A warm and comforting bowl of Classic Lentil Soup, perfect for family gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion (diced)
- 3 carrots (sliced)
- 2 stalks celery (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 bay leaves
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 2 cups dry green lentils (sorted and rinsed)
- 1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 3–4 cups water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the diced onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes tender and translucent.
- Toss in the sliced carrots and celery, sautéing for another minute. Now it’s time to add the tomato paste. Mix this into the aromatic vegetables until it is evenly distributed and sauté everything together for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, cumin, bay leaves, and black pepper into the pot. Stir well and let the spices toast for about 1 minute.
- Include the rinsed lentils, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and 3 cups of water into the pot. Give it a good stir, then bring everything to a boil. Once it reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves from the soup and discard them. Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and mix everything together. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve your Classic Lentil Soup warm, garnished with parsley.
Notes
This soup is versatile and can be served with crusty bread or a fresh salad. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 15g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: soup, lentil, vegetarian, comfort food, easy recipe