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Healthy Italian Lentil Soup: Cozy, Guilt-Free Goodness
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Italian Lentil Soup Recipe

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Calories: 280kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 2 celery stalks sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup dried green or brown lentils rinsed
  • 1 can 14.5 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 4 cups vegetable broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: a handful of spinach or kale
  • Optional garnish: lemon juice chopped parsley, or grated Parmesan

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery until they soften and start flirting with golden brown. About 5–7 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until the kitchen smells amazing and you’re officially hungry.
  • Stir in lentils, crushed tomatoes, broth, oregano, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  • Cover and simmer 25–30 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Stir occasionally so nothing sticks and burns like a bad idea.
  • If you’re using greens, stir them in now and cook 5 more minutes until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Remove bay leaf. Add a squeeze of lemon juice if you like a bright finish. Serve hot and proud.