Hearty Lentil Vegetable Stew (Printable)

A nourishing blend of lentils, assorted vegetables, and herbs simmered into a wholesome stew.

# What You Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
09 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
10 - 4 cups vegetable broth
11 - 2 cups chopped fresh spinach or kale

→ Herbs & Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Optional

17 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for serving)
18 - Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, celery, and diced red bell pepper. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and diced zucchini. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
03 - Add rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes with juice, vegetable broth, dried thyme, oregano, bay leaf, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
04 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes until lentils and vegetables are tender.
05 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in chopped spinach or kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It uses humble ingredients you probably already have, so theres no special shopping trip required.
  • The stew gets better as it sits, which means leftovers taste even richer the next day.
  • Its flexible enough to handle whatever vegetables need using up before they go sad in the fridge.
02 -
  • Don't add the greens too early or they'll turn drab and lose their vibrant color.
  • If the stew gets too thick as it sits, just stir in a little water or broth to loosen it back up.
  • Taste before you add more salt, the broth and canned tomatoes often have plenty already.
03 -
  • Use fire roasted tomatoes if you can find them, they add a subtle smokiness that pairs beautifully with the paprika.
  • Let the stew rest off the heat for ten minutes before serving, the flavors settle and deepen in a way that's hard to explain but easy to taste.

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