Easy Lentil Soup

Name: Easy Lentil Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1.5 tablespoons olive oil; 3 carrots, chopped; 2 stalks celery, sliced; 1 onion, chopped; Salt and pepper; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 dried bay leaf; 1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes, with their juice; 4 cups water; 1 cup lentils, picked over and rinsed well; 1 tablespoon wine vinegar

3.7

(34)

6 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Editors

Updated on July 9, 2019

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

45 mins

Servings:

4

The earthy flavor of the lentils is set off by the tartness of the tomatoes and a spoonful of wine vinegar, which is stirred in just before serving the soup.

Ingredients

1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
3 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 onion, chopped
Salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1 dried bay leaf
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes, with their juice
4 cups water
1 cup lentils, picked over and rinsed well
1 tablespoon wine vinegar

Directions

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, and bay leaf, and cook until vegetables begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes longer.
Add tomatoes with their liquid, breaking them up with a large spoon. Add water and lentils, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Just before serving, stir in vinegar.

Cook's Notes

Cooking times for lentils can vary from 20 to 40 minutes depending on how fresh they are. The older the lentils, the longer they take to soften.

Cook's Notes

Cooked pasta makes a good addition to this soup. Try any short pasta, such as elbow macaroni, or break up strands of spaghetti or linguine. Use about 2 1/2 cups cooked pasta (1 cup dried).