We love a good soup here at Women of Today (who doesn’t?), and this recipe for Hearty and Savory Lentil Soup does not disappoint!
If you are a fan of lentils, then we highly suggest you give this one a try… Not only is it packed with amazing nutrition and flavor, but you can make a big batch of it and keep enjoying it for days! You can also freeze this recipe and pull it out whenever you are in need of a quick + healthy meal.
We also love that this gluten-free recipe can easily be made vegan by opting to use vegetable broth vs. chicken broth (both ways taste great).
Hearty and Savory Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, lightly drained
- 1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
- 6 cups (1.5 boxes) vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt, more to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. One-fourth cup olive oil may seem like a lot, but it adds a nice depth of flavor in this large pot of soup.
- Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, in order to enhance their flavor.
- Pour in the lentils, broth and the water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
- If you have an emersion blender, gently blend the soup in the pot for 10-15 seconds moving the emersion blender around the pot. Be sure not to over blend as you want whole lentils still visible.
- Add the baby spinach and cook for 5 minutes, keeping the vibrant color. Taste and season with more salt, pepper if desired. For spicier soup, add another pinch or two of red pepper flakes.
- Serve while hot.
Enjoy!
Inspired by Cookie and Kate
Images by Lorianne DeVita
