Rustic French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-04 · Updated 2026-06-04

A comforting French-style lentil soup simmered with carrots, onions, and fresh thyme for a hearty regional flavor. This French-inspired soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 55 minutes, pairs dry green lentils, carrots, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 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, rinsed dry green lentils
• 2 medium, diced 1/2-inch carrots
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks. Sauté for 6-7 minutes until vegetables soften and onions become translucent.
2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 cup rinsed dry green lentils, 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, and 1 bay leaf.
3. Step 3: Pour in 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes until lentils are tender.
4. Step 4: Remove bay leaf, stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice, and adjust seasoning to taste. Serve hot with crusty bread.