Hennepin County-Inspired Spiced Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-07 · Updated 2026-08-07

A comforting, lightly spiced stew combining earthy lentils and sweet potatoes, inspired by the diverse flavors from the Minneapolis region. This mediterranean-inspired vegan ready in about 50 minutes pairs dry brown lentils, yellow onion, chopped, garlic cloves, minced 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 brown lentils
• 2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dry brown lentils under cold water and drain.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large chopped yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
3. Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Stir in the rinsed lentils, 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes, 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
5. Step 5: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes until lentils and sweet potatoes are tender and stew has thickened.
6. Step 6: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed; sprinkle with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving warm with crusty bread or rice.