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Close-up of lentil soup with visible vegetables on a wood board.

The absolute best lentil soup

This lentil soup is hearty, flavorful, and packed with nutrients. It's the perfect comforting meal for a chilly day.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Soup Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup brown or green lentils rinsed
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or more to taste
Optional Toppings
  • chopped fresh parsley
  • a swirl of yogurt

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Add garlic, thyme, and smoked paprika and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
  3. Stir in lentils, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
  4. Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Stir in lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper as needed.
  6. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and a swirl of yogurt, if desired.

Notes

For a creamier soup, use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup before serving.