Memorial Brick Spiced Lentil Stew with Sweet Potatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-01 · Updated 2026-05-01

A hearty lentil stew with warming spices and tender sweet potato chunks, symbolizing the engraved memorial bricks—layered, comforting, and deeply flavorful. This Mediterranean-inspired vegan recipe (gluten free), ready in about 55 minutes, pairs brown lentils, sweet potato, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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
• 2 cups, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes sweet potato
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2 medium, diced carrot
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 2 diced carrots, sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, and 1 tsp smoked paprika; cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup rinsed brown lentils, 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potato, 4 cups vegetable broth, and 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until lentils and sweet potatoes are tender.
4. Step 4: Season with 1.5 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro just before serving.