Cozy and Warm Red Lentil Soup

This soup is the most healthy bowl of YUM! If you are like me you have over-indulged in the salt, sugar and fat laden holiday fare. The new year is a perfect time to reset the stage for health and wellness. You need to come into the new year a warrior armed with delicious recipes for food that will nourish your body and warm your soul. I hope you give this recipe a try!

Cozy and Warm Red Lentil Soup

I made this soup in my instant pot with the cook time being 5 minutes but you could make this in your slow cooker 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. All slow cookers work a bit differently so you be the judge. This recipe will serve 4.

1 cup chopped vegetables (onion, celery, green/red peppers (I used frozen prepared…keep it easy).

2 teaspoons vegetable stock powder or paste. What ever you use follow the directions for use with 16 oz water (2 cups)

1 large sweet potato cut into bite sized cubes

1 cup dry red lentils (do not substitute green or brown lentils)

1 cup chopped spinach (frozen is best)

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder for spicy… feel free to leave out

2 cups prepared vegetable broth – to add before serving as this soup gets pretty thick…if you want it thick like a dal then leave this step out but if you want it to eat like a soup you will want to add it before serving.

Add all ingredients (except last 2 cups prepared vegetable broth) to your cooking vessel of choice. Cook until lentils are broken down and sweet potatoes are soft. I put mine in my instant pot set a 5 minutes and natural release. A crock pot does a nice job also. If you do it on the stove top just be close by so that it doesn’t stick and burn on the bottom.

Salt and pepper to taste… I also like a squirt of sriracha hot sauce but I like things spice.