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Brown Lentil Soup Recipe

This lentil soup is a go-to comfort dish, when added sweet potatoes and a can of beans it becomes a hearty nutritious meal that's perfect for any time of year.
Prep Time12 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time37 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Keyword: Brown Lentil Soup, Lentil Soup, Vegetarian Lentil Soup
Servings: 6 people
Author: Silvia Dunnirvine

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup mushrooms shiitake or baby Bella
  • 2 cups sweet potatoes cubed small
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 15 oz can black beans
  • 15 oz can tomatoes crushed, diced or pureed
  • 1 jalapeño substitute for 4oz can of green chiles
  • 6 cups vegetable broth or 4 cups broth + 2 cups water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • lemon juice
  • fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Heat oil in heavy dutch oven pot. Add in the celery, onion and garlic. Sauté until soft and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes)
  • Add in mushrooms and cubed sweet potatoes. Continue to sauté until veggies begin to soften (about 4-5 minutes)
  • Stir in tomato paste and add the spices as well as salt and pepper.
  • Next add the beans, lentils, can of tomatoes, jalapeño or green chiles and bay leaves.
  • Stir in the broth and give it a good stir. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 25 minutes or until lentils are cooked through.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning. Add a splash of lemon juice and garnish with fresh parsley.

Instant Pot Instructions

  • Please follow the sautéing instructions above, in your instant pot using the sauté mode.
  • Turn off sauté mode, cover and lock the lid. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes then quick release pressure. See notes
  • Once all pressure has been release, add lemon juice and garnish with fresh herbs.

Slow Cooker Instructions

  • Please follow the sautéing instructions above, in your slow cooker using the sauté mode. If your slow cooker does not have sauté function you will need to do this step on stove top, then transfer to the slow cooker.
  • Once the sautéing is done, cover the slow cooker and cook on high setting for 3-4 hours or on low setting for 6-8 hours.
  • When ready to eat add a splash of lemon juice and garnish with fresh herbs

Notes

If you are cooking with black lentils or green lentils such as French lentils, you may need to cook for an additional 5-10 minutes depending of your preference. These lentils have a firmer texture than brown or red lentils and therefore will require more time to soften. 

Nutrition

Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1391mg | Potassium: 1106mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 7217IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 6mg