Hearty Lentil & Herb Soup
This is the perfect cozy meal to kick off your New Year!
After trying many versions of this soup at home, I think I finally nailed it. Creamy potatoes are cooked with tender carrots, celery and lightly scented with rosemary and thyme. When pureed together with the protein-packed lentils, you are left with a warm and satisfying meal. A handful of spinach and fresh parsley brings all of the flavors together at the end.
Let’s do this.
The key with this soup is to keep all the vegetables similar in size to the lentils. That means keep your dice small and uniform. Your vegetables and lentils will cook quickly, plus there’s the added aesthetic bonus too. If you want to bulk up the meal a little bit, you can always add some brown rice or quinoa into the mix or serve with crusty bread for dunking, if you like.
Now, go pick up some groceries and get to it.
Hearty Lentil & Herb Soup
4 tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, peeled and finely diced
3 stalks celery, finely diced
1 1/2 cups potatoes, cubed
1 cup green lentils, rinsed
4-6 cups vegetable broth (depending on how thick or thin you like it)
1 sprig rosemary
3 sprigs thyme
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 cups chopped kale or spinach
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)
In a large stock pot set over medium heat, add 2 tbsp. of the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the celery, onion, and carrots. Saute until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in the vegetable broth , turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes, lentils, rosemary and thyme. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 30-35 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Remove rosemary and thyme stems and discard. Place 2 cups of soup in a blender with remaining 2 tbsp. olive oil and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour back into the pot and stir to combine. Add the chopped kale, parsley and Parmesan cheese (if using) and simmer for an additional 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.