Lentil and Vegetable Soup (Printable Version)

Comforting lentils and roasted vegetables simmered in aromatic broth for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Lentils

01 - 1 cup dried green or brown lentils, rinsed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Broth & Seasoning

10 - 6 cups vegetable broth
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Finishing

16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
17 - Juice of ½ lemon

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F
02 - Toss carrots, celery, zucchini, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes until lightly caramelized
03 - Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute
04 - Stir in the rinsed lentils, roasted vegetables, vegetable broth, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes until lentils are tender
05 - Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and lemon juice as desired
06 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, and most of that time you're just letting the oven and stovetop do the work.
  • The roasted vegetables give you that deep, almost sweet flavor that makes people think you've been cooking all day.
  • It's naturally vegan, gluten-free, and filling enough to feel like a real meal without any of the heaviness.
02 -
  • Don't skip the roasting step—the oven transforms ordinary vegetables into something that tastes like you've been cooking since morning.
  • Lentils continue to soften even after you remove the pot from heat, so pull them off the stove when they're just tender to the bite, not when they're completely falling apart.
03 -
  • Stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste in step three if you want to add depth and a subtle sweetness that rounds out the earthiness of the lentils.
  • If your vegetable broth is on the mild side, don't hesitate to add an extra pinch of smoked paprika or a shake of hot sauce at the table for people who like more intensity.
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