Spiced Mediterranean Lentil Stew
A hearty, warming stew with lentils, root vegetables, and aromatic spices for a plant-based comfort dish. This Mediterranean recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 70 minutes, pairs lentils, carrots, celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 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 (brown or red, rinsed) lentils
- 2 medium (diced) carrots
- 1 stalk (diced) celery
- 1 medium (diced) onion
- 2 cloves (minced) garlic
- 2 (chopped) tomatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups water
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add lentils, tomatoes, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat.
- Step 3: Pour in water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, until lentils are tender and the stew thickens.
- Step 4: Adjust seasoning, serve hot, and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
