Lentil and Vegetable Soup (Printable Version)

Hearty soup with tender lentils and roasted vegetables in herb-infused vegetable broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. 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.
02 - Heat 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.
03 - Stir in 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.
04 - Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and lemon juice as desired. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The roasted vegetables add an incredible depth of flavor that makes this soup taste like it simmered all day, even though it comes together in under an hour
  • Its one of those rare recipes that actually tastes better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or lazy lunches
02 -
  • I once forgot to rinse the lentils and ended up with a weirdly foamy soup, so definitely give them a quick rinse first
  • The soup will thicken as it sits, especially the next day, so you might want to add a splash more broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • If you want extra depth, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste when you're sautéing the onions
  • Adding a Parmesan cheese rind while simmering creates an incredible savory richness, even if you keep the soup otherwise vegan
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