Tomato Lentil Soup (Printable)

Tangy tomato broth meets hearty lentils in this vibrant, nourishing Mediterranean soup ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
02 - 2 medium carrots, diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
06 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste

→ Lentils

07 - 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed

→ Liquids

08 - 5 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
13 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
15 - 1 bay leaf

→ Finishing Touches

16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
17 - Juice of ½ lemon

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add tomato paste, cumin, smoked paprika, thyme, and black pepper. Stir constantly for 1 minute to release spice oils.
04 - Add diced tomatoes with juice, lentils, vegetable broth, bay leaf, and salt. Stir thoroughly and bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or until lentils are tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf and stir in lemon juice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The lentils create this remarkable heartiness that somehow makes you feel both nourished and comforted without weighing you down.
  • Everything comes together in one pot with everyday ingredients, making it my go-to when the fridge looks bare but I still want something that tastes intentional.
02 -
  • Never add acidic ingredients like tomatoes or lemon juice until after the lentils have softened, as acid can prevent them from cooking properly, a lesson I learned after an unfortunate batch of crunchy lentils.
  • Rinsing the lentils isnt just a suggestion, its essential for removing debris and surface starch that can make your soup cloudy or gritty.
03 -
  • Add the rind of parmesan cheese (if not keeping it vegan) to the simmering soup for an incredible depth of savory flavor without overwhelming the delicate balance of the other ingredients.
  • For a richer, deeper flavor profile, roast the carrots and onions in the oven before adding them to the pot, a technique that caramelizes their natural sugars and adds remarkable complexity.
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