Lentil Noodle Soup (Printable version)

Hearty soup with lentils, vegetables, and noodles in a flavorful broth ready in under an hour.

# What you'll need:

→ Lentils & Grains

01 - 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
02 - 4 oz egg noodles or any short pasta

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 medium tomato, diced

→ Liquids

08 - 7 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and become fragrant.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and diced tomato. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent garlic from burning, until tomato begins to break down.
03 - Add rinsed lentils, ground cumin, dried thyme, bay leaf, smoked paprika, and vegetable broth. Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a rolling boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover pot with lid, and simmer for 20 minutes. Lentils should be just tender but still hold their shape.
05 - Add egg noodles to the simmering soup. Cook uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until both noodles and lentils are fully tender.
06 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Taste soup and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.
07 - Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley. Accompany with lemon wedges for squeezing over individual portions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • The combination of lentils and noodles makes every spoonful deeply satisfying
  • Leftovers actually improve overnight as flavors meld together
02 -
  • The noodles will continue absorbing liquid if left in the soup, so add them only when you are ready to eat
  • Adding spinach or kale during the last 5 minutes transforms this into a complete one bowl meal
  • A splash of vinegar or extra lemon juice can rescue a batch that tastes flat
03 -
  • Rinse lentils thoroughly until water runs clear to remove any dust or debris
  • Use a short pasta like shells, macaroni, or broken spaghetti pieces if egg noodles are not available

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