Hearty Vegetarian Lentil Stew (Printable)

A hearty, nourishing stew with tender lentils, vibrant vegetables, and aromatic herbs for ultimate plant-based comfort.

# What You'll Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 1.5 cups dried brown or green lentils, rinsed
02 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 large onion, diced
05 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
10 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
11 - 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped

→ Spices and Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Garnish

17 - Fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrot, celery, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cubed potato, rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes with their juice, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried thyme, bay leaf, and vegetable broth. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
04 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils and potatoes are tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in fresh spinach or kale and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust consistency by adding additional broth or water if desired.
07 - Ladle stew into bowls and serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely filling enough to be a main course, yet light enough that you won't feel weighed down afterward.
  • The whole thing comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknight cooking when you want something that feels like you tried.
  • Leftovers taste even better, so it's the rare dish that actually improves as it sits in your fridge.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils—I made that mistake once and spent the entire meal crunching on grit, which is the opposite of meditative eating.
  • The stew will thicken as it cools, so if it seems slightly too thin when you finish cooking, that's actually perfect; just add a splash of broth when you reheat it.
03 -
  • If you're in a hurry, prep all your vegetables while the oil heats so you can work quickly once you start—mise en place is not fancy, it's just smart.
  • The stew freezes beautifully, so it's an excellent candidate for batch cooking on a Sunday afternoon when you feel like you have time.
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