CREAMY Spanish Lentil Soup | HEARTWARMING One-Pot Recipe

vegetable broth

🥗Healthier: homemade vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water

Using water reduces cost while still providing a base for the soup.

smoked paprika

🥗Healthier: sweet paprika

💰Cheaper: regular paprika

Sweet paprika offers a similar flavor without the added smokiness.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Canola oil is a more affordable option for cooking.

parsley

🥗Healthier: cilantro

💰Cheaper: green onions

Green onions provide a fresh garnish at a lower cost.

Heat a stock pot over medium heat and add 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (45 ml).

Finely chop 1 medium onion, roughly chop 1 red bell pepper, and cut 2 peeled carrots into small bite-sized pieces.

Add the chopped ingredients into the stock pot and mix them around to coat in the olive oil. Continuously mix to ensure even sautéing.

After about 5 minutes, add 1 tbsp of sherry vinegar (15 ml), 1 tsp of sweet smoked Spanish paprika (2.5 g), and 3/4 tsp of ground cumin (2 g). Mix quickly.

Add in 1/2 cup of tomato sauce (120 g) and mix until well combined. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.

Rinse 1 cup of dried lentils (180 g) under water in a fine sieve. Add the rinsed lentils to the pot along with 4 cups of water (950 ml) and 1 bay leaf. Turn the heat to high and mix gently.

Once it comes to a boil, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the lentils are just cooked through, checking package instructions for timing.

After 20 minutes, remove the lid and check the lentils for doneness. If they need more time, simmer longer and add more liquid as needed.

Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, mixing well. Remove the bay leaf from the pot.

Using a hand blender, blend the soup until creamy. If too thick, add more liquid while blending.

Transfer some of the soup into a shallow bowl and garnish with crushed red pepper flakes and chopped parsley.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary