Lentil Noodle Soup (Printable)
Comforting bowl of lentils, vegetables, and noodles in savory broth
# What You Need:
→ Lentils & Grains
01 - 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
02 - 4 oz egg noodles or any short pasta
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 medium tomato, diced
→ Liquids
08 - 7 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Spices & Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Lemon wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and onions become translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and diced tomato. Cook for 2 minutes until garlic is fragrant and tomato begins to break down, releasing its juices.
03 - Add rinsed lentils, ground cumin, dried thyme, bay leaf, and smoked paprika to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth and bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to combine spices.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 20 minutes. Lentils should be just tender but still hold their shape. Remove lid occasionally to prevent foaming over.
05 - Add egg noodles to simmering soup. Cook uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are al dente and lentils are fully tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf and discard. Taste soup and season generously with salt and black pepper. Adjust consistency with additional broth if desired.
07 - Ladle hot soup into individual bowls. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It transforms simple pantry ingredients into something that tastes like it simmered all day
- The lentils and pasta together create that rare satisfying balance of hearty and cozy
02 -
- The lentils continue absorbing liquid, so the soup thickens as it sits
- Adding noodles directly to the broth makes them soak up all the spiced flavor
03 -
- Rinse lentils thoroughly before cooking to remove any debris
- Taste the broth before adding salt, since some vegetable broths are already quite salty