Healthy Lentil Stew Recipe | easy mediterranean diet recipes

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: sunflower oil

Avocado oil offers healthy fats while sunflower oil is more budget-friendly.

vegetable broth

🥗Healthier: homemade broth

💰Cheaper: water with seasonings

Homemade broth is healthier and more flavorful.

potatoes

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: carrots

Sweet potatoes add nutrients and flavor, while carrots are often cheaper.

cumin

🥗Healthier: ground coriander

💰Cheaper: caraway seeds

Ground coriander provides a similar flavor profile with health benefits.

Quickly look over your lentils and discard any small bits or stones.

Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat.

Add small diced carrots, small diced celery, and small diced onions to the pot.

Add a bit of salt and cover the pot with parchment paper to sweat the veggies for about 10 minutes.

Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant for a couple of minutes.

Stir in 3 ounces of tomato paste and cook for another couple of minutes until well incorporated.

Add 8 ounces of crushed tomatoes to the pot.

Add all the lentils to the mixture.

Pour in 8 cups of broth or a combination of broth and water to cover the lentils, and bring to a gentle boil.

Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 35 minutes until lentils are cooked through and creamy.

Stir in 8 ounces (about 4 cups) of spinach into the stew.

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and top with a smattering of Parmesan cheese and diced chives before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary