Harissa-Spiced Lentil Stew with Caramelized Onions

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-19 · Updated 2026-04-19

A deeply flavorful, slow-simmered stew with smoky harissa, sweet caramelized onions, and hearty lentils, ideal for chilly evenings. This middle eastern-inspired soups (vegan) ready in about 55 minutes pairs rinsed brown lentils, chicken broth, finely diced red onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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 brown lentils
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2, finely diced red onion
• 2 tbsp harissa paste
• 1, grated carrot
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh cilantro
• 1, wedged lemon

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, add 2 diced red onions, and cook for 15-18 minutes until deeply caramelized and golden, stirring occasionally.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp harissa paste, and 1 tsp cumin, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup rinsed brown lentils, 4 cups chicken broth, and 1 grated carrot, then bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 25-28 minutes until lentils are tender and broth thickens slightly.