Creamy French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme
A comforting and velvety lentil soup simmered with carrots, onions, and fresh thyme for a rich taste of French countryside cooking. This french-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 55 minutes pairs rinsed green lentils, medium, diced carrots, large, diced yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 310 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, rinsed green lentils
- 3 medium, diced carrots
- 1 large, diced yellow onion
- 2, diced celery stalks
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 3 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large diced yellow onion, 3 diced medium carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks. Sauté for 7-8 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 cup rinsed green lentils, 6 cups vegetable broth, 3 fresh thyme sprigs, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes until lentils are tender. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
- Step 4: Using an immersion blender, blend about half the soup until smooth to create a creamy texture while retaining some lentil chunks for body.
- Step 5: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Warm for 5 minutes more, then garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving warm.
Equipment for this recipe
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Creamy French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (15 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Creamy French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep rinsed green lentils from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Creamy French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Creamy French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Creamy French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
