Vegetarian Lentil Stew (Printable)

A warming bowl of tender lentils, 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 (14 ounces) 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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is perfectly balanced between soup and stew, creating that ideal comfort food consistency that clings to your spoon just right.
  • You can throw this together with pantry staples and whatever vegetables are looking sad in your fridge, making it incredibly forgiving and budget-friendly.
02 -
  • Never add salt until your lentils are fully cooked, otherwise they can remain firm no matter how long you cook them.
  • The stew actually tastes better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld together overnight in the refrigerator.
03 -
  • For an incredible flavor boost, add a parmesan rind to the pot while simmering (remove before serving), even die-hard carnivores won't miss the meat.
  • A splash of balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar added just before serving brightens all the flavors and adds a subtle complexity that elevates the entire dish.
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