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Close-up of a white bowl filled with thick, savory Simple Lentil Soup containing brown lentils, diced carrots, and celery.

Simple Lentil Soup

This recipe makes a basic, satisfying lentil soup. It is easy to prepare and requires minimal ingredients.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 bowls
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Soup Base
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped
  • 2 medium Carrots, chopped
  • 2 stalks Celery, chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Brown or green lentils, rinsed Do not use red lentils
  • 6 cups Vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper Or to taste

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Cutting board
  • Knife

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Add the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially, and let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
  6. Taste the soup and adjust the salt and pepper if needed before serving.

Notes

If you prefer a thicker soup, you can mash about one cup of the cooked lentils against the side of the pot before serving.

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