Little Sprout Green Lentil Stew (Print-Friendly)

Hearty stew blending green lentils, carrots, and potatoes with herbs for a wholesome, warming dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach or little sprout greens, roughly chopped (optional)

→ Lentils & Broth

07 - 1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed
08 - 4 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 cup water

→ Herbs & Seasoning

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
16 - Juice of ½ lemon (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced celery; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Stir in diced carrots and potatoes; cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Add rinsed green lentils, vegetable broth, water, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, ground cumin if using, salt, and pepper. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are completely tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf from the pot. Stir in baby spinach or little sprout greens and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
06 - Add lemon juice if desired for brightness. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and seasonings as needed.
07 - Ladle hot stew into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs if available.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, leaving your kitchen smelling incredible without demanding constant attention.
  • Green lentils hold their shape beautifully, so you get those satisfying little pops of texture instead of mushy soup.
  • One pot means less cleanup, which somehow makes dinner taste even better.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils—it removes debris and keeps the broth from becoming cloudy and gritty.
  • If your lentils are still firm after 35 minutes, they're either older or your heat is too high; lower the temperature and give them another 10 minutes rather than cranking up the heat.
03 -
  • Cut your vegetables into similar-sized pieces so everything finishes cooking at the same moment—uneven sizes create frustrating texture contrasts.
  • Taste the stew 5 minutes before you think it's done; that extra time for adjustment ensures it tastes bright and balanced, not one-note.
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