Description
Hearty lentil potato soup delights with Mediterranean-inspired comfort from France. Creamy ingredients blend seamlessly, offering nourishing warmth you’ll savor in each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups green or brown lentils
- 1 yellow potato, cubed
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 4 cups water
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
- 4–6 garlic cloves, lightly crushed
- 1 celery rib, finely diced
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 fennel bulb, finely diced
- 3 thyme sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- Peperoncino or red pepper flakes
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups bread cubes for croutons (optional)
Instructions
- Meticulously rinse lentils under cool water, removing any stones or imperfections. Preheat oven to 375°F for crouton preparation.
- In a large pot, warm olive oil and sauté chopped onions, celery, and garlic until translucent and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Add diced potatoes and vegetable broth, allowing potatoes to partially cook and absorb initial flavors for 10 minutes.
- Incorporate rinsed lentils, remaining broth, thyme, and bay leaves. Reduce heat and gently simmer for 40-45 minutes until lentils become tender and soup thickens.
- While soup simmers, slice bread into small cubes. Toss with olive oil, dried herbs, and a pinch of salt. Spread on baking sheet and toast in preheated oven until golden and crisp, approximately 12-15 minutes.
- Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs from soup. Ladle into warm bowls, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and top with freshly made croutons before serving.
Notes
- Customize lentil size by choosing green, brown, or red varieties for different textures and cooking times.
- Enhance nutrition by adding leafy greens like spinach or kale during the last 5 minutes of simmering.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free bread for croutons or replacing bread with toasted nuts.
- Boost protein and make the soup more filling by stirring in cooked shredded chicken or plant-based protein alternatives before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg