Little Sprout Green Lentil Stew (Printable)

Tender green lentils cooked with carrots, potatoes, and herbs for a comforting vegetarian main dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach or little sprout greens, roughly chopped (optional)

→ Lentils & Broth

07 - 1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed
08 - 4 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 cup water

→ Herbs & Seasoning

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Juice of ½ lemon (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced celery; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Stir in diced carrots and potatoes; cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Add rinsed green lentils, vegetable broth, water, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, ground cumin if using, salt, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes until lentils and vegetables are completely tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in baby spinach or little sprout greens and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Add lemon juice if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Ladle stew into bowls and serve hot, garnishing with fresh herbs if available.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means weeknight dinner stress melts away as soon as you start chopping.
  • Green lentils hold their shape instead of turning mushy, giving you that satisfying bite with every spoonful.
  • One pot means one cleanup, and honestly, that alone makes this a keeper in my regular rotation.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils—this one step prevents grittiness and helps them cook more evenly, something I learned the hard way my first time making this.
  • The stew thickens as it sits, so if you're reheating leftovers, add a splash more broth or water to bring it back to that perfect sip-and-scoop consistency.
03 -
  • Keep your vegetable broth at a low simmer in a separate pot while the stew cooks, so if you need to add more liquid it comes in hot and doesn't interrupt the cooking process.
  • Taste the stew just before serving and add lemon juice or salt last—these final adjustments make the difference between good and memorable.
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