Google Maps' Driving Directions Soup

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-04 · Updated 2026-04-04

A hearty vegetable and lentil soup with aromatic herbs, designed to guide you through a comforting meal with clear, step-by-step simplicity. This comfort food-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 50 minutes pairs rinsed lentils, chicken broth, medium, finely chopped onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 6, 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 lentils
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 medium, diced into 1/4-inch cubes carrots
• 2 stalks, diced into 1/4-inch cubes celery
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat; add 1 finely chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, 1 cup rinsed lentils, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 bay leaf to the pot; bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes until lentils are tender.
3. Step 3: Remove the bay leaf and stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice; taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. The soup should have a rich, velvety texture that coats the spoon.