Lentil Noodle Soup (Printable version)
A warming bowl featuring tender lentils, vegetables, and noodles in aromatic broth. Perfect for chilly days.
# 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 onion becomes translucent.
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, smoked paprika, and vegetable broth to the pot. 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 tender but still hold their shape. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
05 - Add egg noodles to the simmering soup. Cook uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are al dente and lentils are fully tender.
06 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Taste soup and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Remove from heat.
07 - Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- Its the kind of soup that tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for lazy meal prep
- The combination of lentils and noodles creates this incredible hearty texture that feels substantial without being heavy
02 -
- The noodles will soak up broth as the soup sits, so you might need to add more liquid when reheating leftovers
- Don't skip rinsing the lentils. I learned this the hard way when my soup ended up with an odd soapy taste once.
03 -
- Taste your lentils after the initial 20 minute simmer. Different brands cook at slightly different speeds.
- If you like a thicker soup, you can mash a few ladles of cooked lentils against the side of the pot before adding the noodles.