French-Style Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme
A comforting and hearty French lentil soup simmered with aromatic vegetables and fresh thyme for a warming meal. This french-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 55 minutes pairs dry green lentils, medium, peeled and diced carrots, medium, diced 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.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry green lentils
- 2 medium, peeled and diced carrots
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 2, diced celery stalks
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Instructions
- 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.
- Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 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.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until lentils are tender.
- 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.
- Step 6: Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup for a creamy texture, leaving some lentils whole for body. Serve hot.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does French-Style Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (10 min prep + 45 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 French-Style 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 dry green lentils from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in French-Style 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 French-Style 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 French-Style 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.
