Little Sprout Green Lentil Stew (Printer Friendly)

Nourishing mix of green lentils, carrots, and potatoes simmered with herbs for a wholesome main dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach or little sprout greens, roughly chopped

→ Lentils and Broth

07 - 1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed
08 - 4 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 cup water

→ Herbs and Seasoning

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
16 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced celery; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in diced carrots and potatoes; cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
03 - Add rinsed green lentils, vegetable broth, water, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a rolling boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are completely tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf from the stew. Stir in baby spinach or little sprout greens and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Add lemon juice to brighten flavors. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and other seasonings as needed.
07 - Ladle hot stew into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs if available.

# Pro Advice:

01 -
  • Green lentils stay firm and don't turn to mush, giving you real texture in every spoonful.
  • It's hearty enough to satisfy as a main dish but light enough that you won't feel weighted down afterward.
  • Once the pot is simmering, you can walk away and tend to other things, making weeknight dinners actually manageable.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils, because debris and dust can make the stew feel gritty in a way that ruins the whole experience.
  • Green lentils really do hold their shape better than brown or red lentils, and this matters more than you'd expect for the texture of the final dish.
03 -
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking so you're not scrambling to chop while things are sizzling in the pot.
  • If your stew seems too brothy by the end, let it simmer uncovered for another five minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate and flavors to concentrate.
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