Vegetarian Lentil Stew (Print View)

Hearty bowl of tender lentils, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs simmered to perfection.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 1½ cups dried brown or green lentils, rinsed
02 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 large onion, diced
05 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
10 - 1 can diced tomatoes (14 ounces)
11 - 2 cups chopped spinach or kale

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Garnish

17 - Fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Lemon wedges

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and bell pepper. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add potatoes, lentils, diced tomatoes with juice, cumin, smoked paprika, thyme, bay leaf, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
04 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils and potatoes are completely tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in spinach or kale and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust consistency with additional broth or water if desired.
07 - Ladle into bowls and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's the kind of stew that tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or lazy lunches
  • The texture strikes that ideal balance between soup and stew, hearty enough to feel substantial but not so thick it weighs you down
02 -
  • I once forgot to rinse the lentils and ended up with gritty bits throughout the stew, so always give them a quick rinse under cold water first
  • The stew will continue thickening as it sits, so if you're planning to reheat it later, don't worry if it seems slightly thin when you first make it
03 -
  • Chop all your vegetables into similar sized pieces so they cook evenly and you get a bit of everything in each spoonful
  • The garnishes arent just for show that squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the entire bowl and makes all the flavors pop
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