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Cozy Lentil Soup

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A quick and easy hearty lentil soup that delivers nostalgic comfort with earthy lentils, tender veggies, and smoky paprika, perfect for cozy meals in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200g) dry brown or green lentils, rinsed and picked over
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 cups (960 ml) vegetable broth, homemade or low-sodium store-bought
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) crushed tomatoes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, a handful chopped for garnish

Instructions

  1. Rinse and sort lentils under cold running water to remove debris, about 2 minutes.
  2. Dice onion, carrots, and celery; mince garlic.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5-6 minutes until softened and translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in smoked paprika and ground cumin; cook 30 seconds to toast spices.
  5. Add lentils, vegetable broth, bay leaf, and optional crushed tomatoes. Stir and bring to a gentle boil over high heat.
  6. Reduce heat to low, cover pot partially, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy. Stir occasionally and add water or broth if too thick.
  7. Remove from heat. Stir in fresh lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and remove bay leaf.
  8. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm.

Notes

Rinse lentils thoroughly to remove grit. Keep lid slightly ajar while simmering to prevent lentils from becoming mushy. Toast spices briefly to enhance flavor. Adjust thickness by adding broth or water as needed. Use fresh lemon juice at the end to brighten flavors. Red lentils can be used but reduce simmer time to 15-20 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: lentil soup, cozy soup, easy lentil recipe, hearty soup, vegan soup, gluten-free soup, weeknight dinner, healthy soup

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/cozy-lentil-soup-recipe-easy-hearty-homemade-meal-in-30-minutes/