Simple French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme
A comforting and easy-to-make French lentil soup featuring earthy lentils, sweet carrots, and fragrant thyme for a nourishing meal. This french-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 50 minutes pairs rinsed dry green lentils, medium, diced yellow onion, minced garlic cloves 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 into 1/2-inch pieces carrots
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 1/2 tsp, divided salt
- 1/2 tsp, divided black pepper
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 2 diced carrots (1/2-inch pieces) and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 cup rinsed dry green lentils, 4 cups vegetable broth, 3 fresh thyme sprigs, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes until lentils and carrots are tender.
- Step 4: Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Stir in 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, and season with the remaining 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper to taste. Serve hot with crusty bread.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Simple French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme take to make?
Total time is about 50 minutes (10 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Simple French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep rinsed dry green lentils from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Simple French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Simple French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Simple French Lentil Soup with Carrots and Thyme vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
