Description
Hearty slow cooker lentil soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending Mediterranean flavors with simple, nourishing ingredients. Warm spices and tender legumes create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried lentils (green or brown)
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for a zesty finish)
Instructions
- Finely chop onions, carrots, and celery into uniform, small pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Transfer all chopped vegetables and minced garlic into the slow cooker, creating a flavorful vegetable base for the lentil soup.
- Pour vegetable broth over the vegetables, then add lentils, diced tomatoes with their juices, and sprinkle thyme, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper for robust seasoning.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low temperature, allowing the soup to simmer gently for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until lentils become completely soft and tender.
- During the final 5 minutes of cooking, fold fresh spinach into the soup, letting the leaves delicately wilt and integrate with the warm liquid.
- Enhance the soup’s brightness by squeezing fresh lemon juice, which will add a tangy dimension and lift the overall flavor profile.
- Carefully ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, ensuring an even distribution of lentils, vegetables, and broth for a satisfying meal.
- Accompany the soup with crusty bread or crisp crackers to complement the hearty, nutritious dish.
Notes
- Swap out vegetable broth for chicken or beef broth to add deeper, richer flavor profiles for meat lovers.
- Consider adding smoked paprika or a dash of cayenne pepper for those wanting extra warmth and complexity in the soup.
- Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for quick, nutritious meals during busy weekdays, keeping the soup fresh for up to 3 months.
- Boost protein content by stirring in cooked shredded chicken, diced ham, or crumbled bacon right before serving for a heartier meal option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (on high) or 6 hours (on low)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg