Description
This Cozy Lentil Soup is a warming, nutritious, and flavorful Mediterranean-inspired vegan recipe. Packed with hearty lentils, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices, it makes a perfect healthy meal for chilly days. The combination of cumin, smoked paprika, and turmeric infuses the soup with depth, while fresh spinach and lemon juice add brightness and freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Other Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dried green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add Spices and Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried thyme, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, ensuring the spices release their aromas.
- Add Lentils, Tomatoes, and Broth: Add the rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes with their juice, and vegetable broth to the pot. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer Soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let the soup simmer uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and cooked through.
- Add Greens: Stir in the chopped spinach or kale and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the greens have wilted and blended into the soup.
- Finishing Touches: Remove the soup from heat and add the juice of one lemon. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a creamier texture, use an immersion blender to blend half of the soup and then stir it back into the pot.
- To add more heartiness, consider adding diced potatoes or sweet potatoes along with the lentils.
- This soup freezes well for up to 3 months — cool completely before storing in airtight containers.
