Description
A warm and hearty Mediterranean Lentil Soup that combines the rich flavors of spices, vegetables, and lentils, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: feta cheese and kalamata olives, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, diced carrots, and diced celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened.
- Stir in the ground cumin, ground coriander, and ground turmeric. Cook for an additional minute, allowing the spices to become fragrant.
- Add the rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes with their juice, vegetable broth, and bay leaf to the pot. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer for about 30-35 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
- Remove the bay leaf and season the soup with salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the soup slightly to thicken, leaving some lentils whole for texture. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can transfer a portion of the soup to a blender, blend it, and then return it to the pot.
- Stir in chopped fresh parsley just before serving. Garnish with feta cheese and kalamata olives if desired.
Notes
- This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezes well for up to 3 months. Reheat before serving.
- Feel free to add more vegetables like spinach or zucchini for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg