French-Style Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting and hearty French lentil soup simmered with aromatic vegetables and fresh thyme for a warming meal. This French-inspired soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 55 minutes, pairs dry green lentils, carrots, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 45 min Serves 4 French cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced yellow onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are softened and onions are translucent.
  2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Add 1 cup dry green lentils, 6 cups vegetable broth, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until lentils are tender.
  5. Step 5: Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Season soup with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and stir in 1 tbsp red wine vinegar for brightness.
  6. Step 6: Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup for a creamy texture, leaving some lentils whole for body. Serve hot.

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