Description
Hearty slow cooker lentil soup embodies comfort and warmth from Mediterranean kitchens. Robust ingredients meld together, creating a nourishing meal you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 cups / 300 grams dry lentils (green or brown, rinsed)
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can / 14 oz / 400 grams diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (optional)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp dried thyme
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 bay leaf
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preparation: Lightly coat slow cooker interior with cooking spray to prevent sticking and facilitate effortless cleanup.
- Base Layer: Layer dried lentils, onions, carrots, and celery evenly across the slow cooker bottom, creating a robust vegetable foundation.
- Liquid and Aromatics: Pour diced tomatoes and vegetable broth over vegetables, then sprinkle minced garlic, ground cumin, paprika, thyme, black pepper, and sea salt to develop a complex flavor profile.
- Herbal Infusion: Nestle a whole bay leaf into the mixture, allowing its subtle herbal essence to permeate the liquid during cooking.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and set slow cooker to low temperature for 6-7 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours, allowing ingredients to transform and tenderize, with lentils becoming soft and vegetables melding together.
- Final Touch: In the last 5 minutes of cooking, fold in fresh leafy greens like spinach or kale, letting them gently wilt and integrate into the soup’s texture.
- Finishing and Serving: Remove bay leaf, stir in fresh lemon juice for brightness, then ladle into warm bowls and accompany with crusty artisan bread or a crisp side salad for a complete, nutritious meal.
Notes
- Prevent Lentil Clumping: Rinse lentils thoroughly before adding to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking throughout the soup.
- Boost Flavor Depth: Sauté onions, garlic, and vegetables briefly before adding to slow cooker to intensify their natural sugars and create a more complex taste profile.
- Adjust Liquid Consistency: Keep extra vegetable broth nearby to adjust soup thickness if needed during cooking, as lentils absorb liquid differently.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Easily convert to gluten-free by using gluten-free broth and checking seasoning labels; swap vegetables for low-carb alternatives like zucchini for keto-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg