Recipe Details

• Author: deesviral
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Soup / Comfort Food
• Cuisine: Mediterranean / American
• Keywords: lentil soup, healthy soup, vegetarian soup, deesviral

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1½ cups dried lentils, rinsed
• 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Optional: lemon juice or fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 6–7 minutes until softened.
3. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add lentils, broth, diced tomatoes, cumin, smoked paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 35–40 minutes until lentils are tender.
6. Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning as needed.
7. For a thicker texture, lightly mash some lentils with the back of a spoon.
8. Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice or fresh parsley if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Add spinach or kale during the last 5 minutes for extra greens.
• Use red lentils for a creamier texture.
• This soup freezes beautifully and tastes even better the next day.

Why This Recipe Works

Lentils naturally thicken the soup as they cook, creating a rich and satisfying texture without cream. Slow simmering allows the spices and vegetables to fully develop, resulting in a deeply flavorful, nourishing bowl every time.