Lentil Stew

5 from 2 votes

This lentil stew recipe has a nice smokiness from the paprika and richness from the savory broth. Served with vegan cornbread, this hearty lentil stew is a one-pot quick weeknight meal in under 30 minutes.

Course: Soups

Cuisine: American

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Calories: 1533kcal

Author: Kathy Carmichael

Ingredients

1 White onion, diced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
2 Carrots, diced
2 Stalks, celery, diced
2 cups Brown lentils Rinsed and picked over; remove stones or debris
6 Baby potatoes, cut into quarters Optional
1 bunch kale, chopped into bite-sized pieces remove the stem
¼ cup Tomato paste
6 cups Vegetable Broth
1 Tablespoons Smoked paprika
2 teaspoons Cumin
½ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon Parsley, chopped Garnish optional

Instructions

Saute garlic, onions, carrots, and celery in a dutch oven or large soup pot until the onions are translucent.
Add the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and cumin. Stir to combine.
Add the dry brown lentils and the tomato paste.
Stir to combine.
If using the potatoes, add them now, and stir into the mixture.
Add the vegetable broth.
Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce the temperature to simmer.
Cook for 30 minutes.
Remove the cover and stir in the chopped kale. The kale wilts when added to the hot stew.
Garnish with parsley.
Serve with cornbread or crusty bread.

Notes

Rinse lentils and pick through them to ensure there aren't any stones. Remove any unwanted debris.

For a thinner stew, add vegetable broth or skip teh potatoes, which absorb a lot of fluid.

Cut the vegetables in similar sizes, so they cook evenly.

Remove the stem from the kale and chop it into bite-sized pieces consistent with the size of the vegetables in the stew.

If you don't have smoke paprika, add a teaspoon or two of liquid smoke.

I suggest using Souper Cubes to freeze leftover stew.

For freezing, ensure the stew is at room temperature or cold in the refrigerator before freezing.

Freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw frozen lentil stew overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. You may need to add a little vegetable broth to thawed stew before reheating.

Nutrition