Cozy Evening Vegan Soup (Printable)

A warming vegan lentil soup packed with seasonal vegetables and flavorful herbs, perfect for any cozy night.

# List of ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium onion, diced
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
06 - 1 cup chopped kale (stems removed)
07 - 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)

→ Legumes

08 - 3/4 cup dried green or brown lentils, rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 6 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Spices & Herbs

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
02 - Incorporate sliced carrots, celery, and diced potato. Continue cooking for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Stir in rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes, dried thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, and bay leaf.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 25 minutes until lentils and vegetables soften.
05 - Add chopped kale and simmer for an additional 5 minutes until wilted.
06 - Remove bay leaf, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
07 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and serve immediately, optionally accompanied by crusty bread.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • The lentils give you real staying power without any fussiness about protein sources.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which feels like a gift on an evening when you're tired.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils first—this small step prevents that dusty flavor that can haunt an otherwise perfect soup.
  • The kale goes in last, not at the beginning, or it becomes a faded shadow of itself instead of staying vibrant and just-cooked tender.
03 -
  • Keep your bay leaf in a spot you can easily see so you actually remember to fish it out before serving—it's bitter if someone bites into it.
  • If you're cooking for someone with dietary restrictions, double-check that your vegetable broth is certified gluten-free, since some brands sneak it in where you wouldn't expect it.

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