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Vegetarian Lentil Soup in a white bowl, with a hand dipping a piece of bread.

Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Close-up of a man with short hair and beard, wearing a gray t-shirt, indoors with natural lighting.Gavin Crisp
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 285 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 large carrots chopped
  • 2 large ribs celery chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups dried brown or green lentils
  • 1 can 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 3 dried bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh chopped parsley for serving optional

Instructions
 

  • Start by heating the oil in a large pot. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
    Pouring olive oil into a large Dutch oven for Vegetarian Lentil Soup.
  • Sauté the veggies. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
    Sautéing chopped onion, carrots, and celery in a white Dutch oven for Vegetarian Lentil Soup.
  • Add the garlic. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, which should take about 30 seconds.
    Stirring chopped carrots, celery, and onion with garlic for Vegetarian Lentil Soup.
  • Pour in the broth. Add the vegetable broth to the pot, making sure to scrape any bits off the bottom of the pot as you stir.
    Adding vegetable broth to a pot with sautéed onions, carrots, and celery for Vegetarian Lentil Soup.
  • Combine remaining ingredients. Mix in the lentils, crushed tomatoes, cumin, paprika, thyme, bay leaves, lemon juice, and salt.
  • Simmer the soup. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.
    Combining lentils, crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, and spices in a pot for Vegetarian Lentil Soup.
  • Final touches. Remove the bay leaves from the soup, discard them, and season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
    Seasoning Vegetarian Lentil Soup with freshly ground pepper in a white Dutch oven.
  • Serve and enjoy. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
    Vegetarian lentil soup with carrots, celery, and fresh parsley in a white bowl.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 13gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2014mgFiber: 17g
Keyword how to make lentil soup, lentil soup, lentil soup recipe, vegan lentil soup
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