Braised French Lentils with Carrots and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-04 · Updated 2026-08-04

Earthy French green lentils slowly braised with sweet carrots, aromatic thyme, and shallots for a comforting vegetarian dish. This French-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs green lentils (French Puy lentils), carrots, diced, shallots, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup green lentils (French Puy lentils)
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 medium shallots, minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup French green lentils under cold water and drain. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add 2 minced shallots and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
2. Step 2: Add 2 diced medium carrots to the pot and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Step 3: Pour in 3 cups vegetable broth, add the rinsed lentils, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover partially, and cook for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat, discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf, then stir in 1 tbsp red wine vinegar for brightness. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed and serve warm as a hearty side or main dish.