Slow Cooker Lentil Soup – Learn like a Pro: Few foods are as warm and healthy as a well-made lentil soup when it comes to comfort foods. Lentils are an important part of many diets around the world because they are full of protein, fiber, and important nutrients.
Slow Cooker Lentil Soup – Learn like a Pro
What’s even better is when you can make something comfortable with almost no work at all, thanks to slow cooking. This recipe shows you how to make a tasty and healthy lentil soup in a slow cooker. It’s great for cold nights, busy days, or any time you need a hearty bowl of goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried lentils (any variety)
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: additional vegetables such as spinach or kale
- Optional: a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness
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Instructions
Run cold water over the beans and pick out any dirt. Diced tomatoes (with their sauces), onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, oregano, and bay leaf should all be put in the slow cooker with the lentils.
Add pepper and salt to taste. Stir everything together until it’s well mixed. Put the lid on and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, until the veggies and lentils are soft.
If you want to add extra veggies like kale or spinach, do so in the last 30 minutes of cooking. Taste the food before serving and make any necessary spice changes.
If you want it to be even brighter, add a squeeze of lemon juice. Before you serve, take out the bay leaf.
Notes and Tips
Lentils are very healthy because they are full of protein, fiber, and many vitamins and minerals. Because they are so high in folate, iron, and potassium, they are a great choice for improving your health as a whole.
There are a lot of ways to use this soup. You can change it up by adding your favorite herbs or veggies. You can add sweet potatoes or diced potatoes to make it heartier.
A slow cooker not only makes cooking easier, but it also gives the flavors time to blend together nicely. Plus, as it simmers, it fills your home with delicious smells.
You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to four or five days or freeze them for longer. Just heat it up slowly on the stove or in the microwave.
Instead of chicken broth, use veggie broth to make this soup vegan-friendly. For more energy, add cooked tofu or chicken that has been shreds or diced near the end of cooking.
Don’t be afraid to try different seasonings and sauces to find the ones that you like best. A nice kick can come from cumin, smoked paprika, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
- Serving:Â 1serving;
- Calories:Â 240 Kcal
- Carbohydrates:Â 36g
- Protein:Â 12g
- Fat:Â 5g
- Saturated Fat:Â 1g
- Potassium:Â 609mg
- Fiber:Â 16g
- Sugar:Â 5g
- Vitamin A:Â 7327iu
- Vitamin C:Â 6mg
- Calcium:Â 54mg
- Iron:Â 4mg