Lentil Vegetable Soup

Guys, guys guys.

My mom consistently whips up these magically delicious soups, and this one is one of her specialities. This lentil soup is hearty, savory, and filled with a variety of flavors and textures. It has the perfect balance of salty and tart as well. Should you try it out? Definitely! It has a very high nutrient density while being quite low in fat and calories. It’s the perfect dinner to keep you and your family feeling full, satisfied, and heathy, especially now that the fall chill is beginning to creep in.

Since I’ve recently been diagnosed with iron deficient anemia, I have been working to be a lot more conscious about the types of food I’m eating to improve my iron levels. It’s clear that my body is not absorbing nearly as much iron as I should be, and so one of the best ways to increase iron absorption is to eat foods high in vitamin c in conjunction with iron rich foods. Lentils are rich in fiber, protein, folate, iron, vitamin K, and more. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins C and A. It’s perfect for helping me get out of this deficiency…I hope.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 carrot diced
• 2 celery stalks diced
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup of uncooked lentils
• 1 can of black beans
• 3 cups of spinach
• 2 cups water
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme

Instructions:

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat, add olive oil and onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery and sautee them for another 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sautee with vegetables for about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, lentils, water, broth, bay leaf, and black beans into the pot. Wait until the pot boils, then lower the heat and cover the pot for 5 to 10 minutes. Occasionally check the soup to see if the lentils are soft. Once the lentils are soft, add the spinach, a 1/2 tsp of dried basil, and 1/2 tsp of thyme to the soup. Once the spinach has softened, it is complete! You can add some salt and pepper to taste.

Anyways, this soup is so incredibly tasty. I had it for dinner last night and I enjoyed every bite. As a vegetarian, it gives me most of the nutrients I need. Give it a shot when you have time. It’ll be magical. I promise.

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