Vegetarian Lentil Stew (Printable)

Tender lentils and vegetables simmered in aromatic broth for a satisfying plant-based meal.

# Ingredient list:

→ 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

# Cooking steps:

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

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It's a one-pot meal that feels like it took hours but comes together in less than an hour, and nobody needs to know your secret.
  • The lentils give you genuine protein and substance without any meat, keeping you full and satisfied.
  • It tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep when life gets busy.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing your lentils, because I learned this the hard way when a grain of grit landed between my teeth mid-bite and ruined the whole experience.
  • The stew thickens as it sits, so if you're making it ahead, you might need to add extra liquid when reheating, and that's completely normal and not a failure.
03 -
  • A splash of balsamic vinegar stirred in at the end adds complexity and makes people ask what you did differently, even though it's just one small addition.
  • Sweet potato can replace regular potato if you want a sweeter, more autumnal version, and it works beautifully with the smoked paprika.
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