Lentil Noodle Soup (Print Version)
Tender lentils and vegetables simmer with noodles in a flavorful broth for a comforting vegetarian meal 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
# How-To Steps:
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. Continue cooking 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, and smoked paprika to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth and increase heat to bring mixture to a rolling boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 20 minutes. Lentils should be just tender but not mushy when tested.
05 - Add egg noodles to simmering soup. Continue cooking uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until both noodles and lentils are fully cooked and tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf from soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.
07 - Ladle hot soup into individual bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together with inexpensive ingredients you probably already have
- The leftovers taste even better after the flavors really settle in overnight
02 -
- The noodles will continue absorbing liquid if left in the soup too long
- Rinsing lentils before cooking removes any debris and helps them cook evenly
03 -
- A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving brightens the entire bowl
- Using homemade vegetable broth makes a noticeable difference in flavor