Little Sprout Green Lentil Stew (Printable)

Hearty stew featuring green lentils, carrots, potatoes, and aromatic herbs for a comforting vegetarian dish.

# What You’ll Use:

→ 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 & 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
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
16 - Juice of ½ lemon

# How-To:

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 and fragrant.
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 the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables reach a tender consistency.
05 - Remove the bay leaf from the pot. Stir in baby spinach or little sprout greens and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted and incorporated.
06 - Add fresh lemon juice if desired. Taste the stew and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Transfer stew to serving bowls and serve hot. Garnish with fresh herbs if available.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • Green lentils hold their shape beautifully instead of turning to mush, giving you actual texture to chew.
  • One pot means one cleanup, which feels like a small victory on weeknights.
02 -
  • If your lentils aren't tender after 35 minutes, don't panic—just give them another 5 or 10 minutes; some batches are drier than others and need the extra time.
  • Don't add salt at the beginning; wait until near the end because it can make the lentils take longer to soften, and you want to taste things as they're coming together anyway.
03 -
  • Dice your vegetables slightly smaller than you think you need them to be—they shrink more than you'd expect as they cook.
  • If you have a Dutch oven, use it; the heavy bottom and tight-fitting lid create a more even cooking environment than a regular pot ever could.
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