Little Sprout Green Lentil Stew (Printable)

Hearty stew featuring green lentils, carrots, potatoes, and herbs for a warm, comforting meal.

# 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 (optional)

→ Lentils & Broth

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

→ Herbs & Seasoning

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Juice of ½ lemon (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and celery; sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in carrots and potatoes; cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add rinsed green lentils, vegetable broth, water, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, cumin if using, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30–35 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in baby spinach or little sprout greens, and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Add lemon juice if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs if available.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The green lentils keep their texture without turning to mush, which honestly surprised me the first time.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup and maximum coziness on nights when you're already tired.
  • It's naturally vegetarian but hearty enough that no one at the table misses meat.
02 -
  • Green lentils take the full 30 to 35 minutes, so don't try to rush it by increasing the heat or you'll end up with mushy vegetables and undercooked lentils.
  • The difference between a good stew and a great one is tasting it right before serving and adding lemon juice or a pinch more salt to wake everything up.
03 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils, it removes dust and helps prevent the stew from becoming cloudy or gritty.
  • If you're cooking for someone with dietary restrictions, check that your vegetable broth is truly vegetarian or plant-based, because some brands sneak in chicken stock.
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