Vegetarian Lentil Stew (Printable version)

Hearty plant-based stew with lentils, vegetables, and aromatic herbs in a savory broth.

# What You 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 (14 oz) diced tomatoes
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 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 to combine all ingredients.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils and potatoes are 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 extra broth or water if desired.
07 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This stew sits perfectly between soup and substantial, filling you up without leaving you heavy
  • The smoked paprika creates this incredible depth that makes people think you cooked for hours
  • Its one of those rare meals that actually tastes better the next day
02 -
  • I once forgot to rinse the lentils and spent the whole meal picking out tiny stones, rinse them in a mesh strainer
  • The stew will thicken considerably in the fridge, so add extra broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • A splash of coconut milk stirred in at the end makes it incredibly creamy
  • Toast the lentils in the hot pot for 2 minutes before adding any liquid, it deepens their nutty flavor
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