Save A hearty, nourishing soup packed with seasonal winter vegetables and protein-rich lentils, perfect for warming up on cold days.
I made this soup for my family on a chilly evening and everyone loved how rich and comforting it tasted. It's a staple in my kitchen during winter months because it's both easy and satisfying.
Ingredients
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Onion: 1 large, diced
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Carrots: 2 medium, peeled and diced
- Parsnips: 2, peeled and diced
- Celery: 2 stalks, diced
- Turnip: 1 small, peeled and cubed
- Sweet potato: 1 small, peeled and cubed
- Kale or Swiss chard: 1 cup, chopped (stems removed)
- Lentils: 1 cup dried brown or green, rinsed
- Vegetable broth: 6 cups
- Diced tomatoes: 1 can (14 oz / 400 g), with juice
- Bay leaf: 1
- Dried thyme: 1 tsp
- Ground cumin: 1 tsp
- Smoked paprika: ½ tsp
- Ground black pepper: ½ tsp
- Salt: 1 tsp, or to taste
- Fresh parsley: 2 tbsp, chopped (optional)
- Lemon juice: from ½ lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the base:
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add vegetables:
- Add garlic, carrots, parsnips, celery, turnip, and sweet potato. Sauté for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Combine ingredients:
- Stir in lentils, diced tomatoes (with juice), vegetable broth, bay leaf, thyme, cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt.
- Simmer:
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
- Add greens:
- Stir in kale or Swiss chard and simmer for 5 more minutes until wilted.
- Finish soup:
- Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired.
- Serve:
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if using.
Save We often share this soup with friends and neighbors on snowy weekends. It brings everyone together and warms up the house while it simmers.
Required Tools
You'll need a large soup pot, cutting board and knife, wooden spoon, and ladle to make this recipe efficiently.
Allergen Information
The soup contains no common allergens but always check the broth and tomato labels for processed ingredients if needed.
Nutritional Information
Each serving offers around 210 calories, 4 g total fat, 36 g carbohydrates, and 10 g protein, making it nourishing and light.
Save This soup comes together easily and tastes even better the next day. Make a big batch to keep your winter dinners stress free!