Best Hearty Lentil Soup With Spinach Vegetarian Version Recipes

1-POT EVERYDAY LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add water (or oil), garlic, shallots/onion (optional), carrots, and celery. Season with a bit of salt and pepper and stir.
• Sauté for 4-5 minutes or until slightly tender and golden brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic (turn heat down if it's cooking too quickly.)
• Add potatoes and season with a bit more salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 2 minutes more.
• Add vegetable broth and rosemary or thyme and increase heat to medium high. Bring to a rolling simmer. Then add lentils and stir. Once simmering again, reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until lentils and potatoes are tender.
• Add your greens, stir, and cover. Cook for 3-4 minutes more to wilt. Then taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt and pepper for overall flavor, vegetable broth if it's become too thick, or herbs for earthy flavor.
• Enjoy as is or serve with rice, cauliflower rice, or a side of flatbread or rolls (links above). I love garnishing mine with a little fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness (optional).
• Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat on the stovetop and add more vegetable broth to rehydrate as needed.

HEARTY LENTIL SOUP WITH SPINACH - VEGETARIAN VERSION

Steps:

• Heat olive oil at medium-high heat.
• Add onions, carrots and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften (4-8 minutes).
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
• Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf and thyme; cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
• Stir in lentils, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until vegetables are softened and lentils have darkened *7-10 minutes).
• Uncover, add vegetable broth and water.
• Bring to a boil, cover partially, and reduce heat to low.
• Simmer until lentils are tender but not mushy (30-35 minutes).
• Discard bay leaf.
• Puree 3 cups soup in blender until smooth, then return puree to pot.
• Stir in spinach until wilted.
• Serve! (or place in plastic containers for work!).

MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL SOUP WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Sort lentils and rinse under cold water.
• Place lentils, onions, celery, carrots, potato, garlic, cumin seeds, lemon zest, and vegetable broth in the crockpot.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-6 hours or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
• Add spinach and lemon juice and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes more.

HEARTY VEGETABLE LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon in pan. Add potatoes, carrots and onion; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until carrots and onion are tender. Add garlic and seasonings; cook 1 minute longer., Add lentils and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 30-35 minutes or until lentils and potatoes are tender. Top each serving with bacon.