Lentil and Kale Soup
Hearty vegetarian pot with fire-roasted tomatoes and smoked paprika
Green lentils simmer with onion, carrot, celery, kale, and fire-roasted tomatoes until thick. Smoked paprika adds depth without meat.
Why crews like it: Budget-friendly and fiber-rich. Gives vegetarian crew a main dish that feels as substantial as meat nights.
304Cal
18gProtein
43gCarbs
8gFat
Ingredients
- 2 lb green lentils
- 2 large yellow onion
- 4 whole carrots
- 4 whole celery stalks
- 1 bunch lacinato kale
- 2 cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 10 cups vegetable broth
- 6 cloves garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 whole bay leaves
Instructions
- Sweat aromatics: Heat olive oil in an 8-quart pot over medium. Cook onion, carrot, and celery 8–10 minutes until softened and onion edges turn translucent.
- Bloom spices: Add garlic, smoked paprika, and cumin. Stir 1–2 minutes until spices smell toasty and paste-like, not raw or dusty.
- Simmer lentils: Add lentils, tomatoes, broth, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cook 30–35 minutes until lentils are tender but hold shape.
- Wilt kale: Stir in kale and simmer 5 minutes until leaves soften and turn deep green. Soup should be thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.
- Season and serve: Remove bay leaves. Adjust salt and pepper. Lentils should be tender with slight bite, not mushy or split open.
Tonight's spread
- Crusty whole-grain bread with olive oil.
- Shaved parmesan and red pepper flakes.
Hall tips
- Rinse lentils well—dusty lentils make cloudy, gritty soup.
- A parmesan rind simmered in the pot adds umami without meat.
- Portion with a 12-oz ladle; crew can add bread for extra calories.
Meal prep
Chop mirepoix ahead. Soup thickens overnight—thin with broth when reheating. Station: Use widest pot available so lentils cook evenly without scorching bottom. Station: Stir kale in during last 5 minutes so it stays bright green, not army drab. Station: Offer hot sauce and parmesan at side station for crew who want extra punch.
Leftovers
- Blend half into a creamy base and return to pot for texture variety.
- Freeze flat bags for emergency vegetarian nights.
- 8-quart stock pot
- Wooden spoon