Slow-Cooked Vegetable and Lentil Soup
This slow-cooked vegetable and lentil soup is a hearty and flavorful vegetarian meal that's perfect for a cold winter night. The soup is made with a variety of vegetables, including onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, as well as green lentils and diced tomatoes. The soup is simmered for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the lentils are cooked through. The soup is then seasoned with salt and pepper to taste and served hot.
This recipe is based on a traditional French lentil soup called 'soupe aux lentilles'. The soup is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, when lentils were a staple food for the poor. The soup was typically made with whatever vegetables were available, and it was often thickened with bread or flour. Over time, the soup evolved into the more refined dish that we know today. Our version of the soup is made with a variety of vegetables, including onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, as well as green lentils and diced tomatoes. The soup is simmered for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the lentils are cooked through. The soup is then seasoned with salt and pepper to taste and served hot.
Slow-Cooked Vegetable and Lentil Soup Slow-Cooked Vegetable and Lentil Soup Slow-Cooked Vegetable and Lentil Soup Slow-Cooked Vegetable and Lentil Soup
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 30 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup green lentils, picked over and rinsed
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the lentils, tomatoes, and vegetable broth.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve hot.
Why It Works
  • The vegetables in this soup provide a variety of flavors and textures, and they also add a lot of nutritional value.
  • The lentils add protein and fiber to the soup, making it a hearty and satisfying meal.
  • The soup is simmered for a long time, which allows the flavors to meld and develop.
  • The soup is seasoned with salt and pepper to taste, which enhances the flavors of the vegetables and lentils.