Lentil and Vegetable Stew

Lentil and Vegetable Stew

Mia

This hearty Mediterranean lentil and vegetable stew is a celebration of simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to create a deeply satisfying meal. Rooted in the culinary traditions of Greece, Italy, and the Middle East, this one-pot wonder has been warming families for generations with its rich, earthy flavors and nourishing qualities. The combination of protein-packed lentils and colorful seasonal vegetables creates a complete meal that's both budget-friendly and incredibly nutritious.

What makes this stew truly special is the aromatic foundation of sautéed onions, garlic, and fresh herbs that infuse every spoonful with Mediterranean warmth. The lentils break down slightly during cooking, creating a naturally thick and creamy texture without any cream or flour. Each vegetable—from sweet carrots to tender zucchini—contributes its own unique flavor and texture, while tomatoes add a bright acidity that balances the earthiness of the lentils.

This dish embodies the core principles of the Mediterranean diet: plant-based protein, abundant vegetables, olive oil, and herbs. It's incredibly versatile and forgiving, allowing you to substitute vegetables based on what's in season or what you have on hand. The stew actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together, making it perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd.

Serve this comforting stew with a slice of crusty whole-grain bread, a drizzle of your finest extra virgin olive oil, and perhaps a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavors. It's the kind of meal that nourishes both body and soul, proving that healthy eating never has to be boring or complicated.

Nutrition

1 hour 5 minutes
None servings
285 calories
Fat 7.50g
Carbs 42.00g
Protein 15.00g

Ingredients

1.5 cupsgreen or brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
3 tbspextra virgin olive oil
1 largeyellow onion, diced
3 mediumcarrots, peeled and diced
2 Nonecelery stalks, diced
4 Nonegarlic cloves, minced
1 can (14.5 oz)diced tomatoes, with juices
6 cupsvegetable broth
1 largezucchini, diced
1 largered bell pepper, diced
1 tspdried oregano
1 tspdried thyme
2 Nonebay leaves
1/2 tspground cumin
1 tspsalt
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
3 cupsfresh spinach, roughly chopped
2 tbspfresh lemon juice
1/4 cupfresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
measuring spoons
measuring cups
wooden spoon or spatula
ladle
chef's knife
can opener
fine-mesh strainer
large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven

80/20 Diet

This stew is an excellent 80/20 Diet choice with well over 80% of ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods including vegetables, lentils, and herbs. The small amount of olive oil and canned tomatoes represent the modest 20% while the recipe remains anti-inflammatory, fiber-rich, and packed with vitamins and minerals.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This stew is rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients including colorful vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and anti-inflammatory spices like garlic, turmeric (via cumin), and fresh herbs. It completely avoids processed foods, refined sugars, and inflammatory ingredients while emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense plant foods.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with only whole, minimally processed ingredients in their natural state. Every ingredient is recognizable and unprocessed—fresh vegetables, dried lentils, olive oil, herbs, and spices—with no refined sugars, artificial ingredients, or preservatives.

Daniel Fast

This recipe is fully Daniel Fast compliant, using only whole, unprocessed plant-based ingredients including vegetables, legumes (lentils), and plant-based oil. It contains no animal products, refined grains, added sweeteners, leavened bread, or processed ingredients, making it perfect for this spiritual fasting practice.

DASH Diet

This stew aligns perfectly with DASH Diet principles by emphasizing vegetables, legumes, and whole foods while using herbs and spices for flavor instead of excessive salt. The lentils provide plant-based protein, and the recipe is naturally low in saturated fat and rich in potassium, magnesium, and fiber.

Detox Diet

This cleansing stew supports natural detoxification with organic whole vegetables, legumes, and herbs while completely avoiding processed foods, refined sugars, dairy, gluten, red meat, and artificial additives. The fiber-rich lentils and vegetables help support digestive health and natural detox processes.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe is excellent for diabetic diets with low glycemic index lentils providing slow-releasing carbohydrates, abundant non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil. The high fiber content helps regulate blood sugar levels, and the recipe contains no refined sugars or processed ingredients.

Engine 2 Diet

This recipe is Engine 2 compliant as it's 100% plant-based with no animal products or added oils beyond the olive oil used for sautéing. To make it fully compliant, simply water-sauté the vegetables instead of using olive oil, and the recipe becomes a perfect whole-food, plant-based meal.

Flexitarian Diet

This recipe is an excellent flexitarian option, featuring plant-based ingredients as the complete foundation with lentils providing protein, abundant vegetables, and whole food ingredients. It demonstrates how satisfying and flavorful plant-forward meals can be without any animal products.

Gluten-Free Diet

This naturally gluten-free recipe contains no wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing ingredients. It relies entirely on whole vegetables, lentils, and naturally gluten-free ingredients, making it safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This heart-healthy stew features plant-based protein from lentils, abundant vegetables, and olive oil as the primary fat source while completely avoiding saturated fats, trans fats, and processed meats. The high fiber content, potassium-rich vegetables, and anti-inflammatory ingredients support cardiovascular health.

High-Fiber Diet

This stew is exceptionally high in dietary fiber from lentils (which provide about 8g fiber per half cup), plus additional fiber from abundant vegetables including carrots, celery, zucchini, bell peppers, and spinach. The combination creates a fiber powerhouse that supports digestive health and satiety.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense stew is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing sustained energy from complex carbohydrates in lentils, high fiber content, and balanced macronutrients that promote satiety throughout fasting periods while avoiding processed ingredients and refined sugars.

Intuitive Eating

This satisfying stew supports intuitive eating principles by offering a nourishing, flavorful meal that honors both taste preferences and gentle nutrition. It provides natural satiety from fiber and protein while celebrating the pleasure of eating wholesome, delicious food without restriction or guilt.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This stew aligns with Mayo Clinic Diet principles by emphasizing abundant vegetables, plant-based protein from lentils, whole food ingredients, and healthy fats from olive oil in moderate amounts. It avoids processed foods, refined grains, and added sugars while providing excellent nutrition and satiety.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is a quintessential Mediterranean dish, featuring extra virgin olive oil as the primary fat, abundant vegetables, protein-rich legumes (lentils), and aromatic herbs. It avoids red meat, processed ingredients, and relies on wholesome plant-based ingredients that are cornerstones of the Mediterranean eating pattern.

MIND Diet

This recipe supports brain health with MIND Diet staples including leafy greens (spinach), beans (lentils), vegetables, olive oil as the primary fat, and whole food ingredients. It avoids red meat, butter, and processed foods while emphasizing the plant-based, anti-inflammatory foods that support cognitive function.

Mindful Eating

This recipe is perfect for mindful eating with its variety of colors, textures, and aromas that engage multiple senses. The whole, minimally processed ingredients encourage slow, conscious consumption while the combination of tender lentils, crisp vegetables, and aromatic herbs creates a sensory experience that promotes awareness and satisfaction.

Plant-Based Diet

This entirely plant-based stew contains no animal products whatsoever, featuring protein-rich lentils, abundant vegetables, and whole food ingredients. It provides complete nutrition from legumes, vegetables, and healthy plant oils without any meat, dairy, eggs, or honey.

Vegan Diet

This recipe is completely vegan, containing absolutely no animal products or by-products. It relies on lentils for protein, uses vegetable broth, and features only plant-based whole food ingredients including vegetables, legumes, and olive oil.

Vegetarian Diet

This hearty vegetarian stew provides excellent plant-based protein from lentils and is completely free of meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. The combination of legumes and vegetables creates a nutritionally balanced, satisfying meal suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians.

Weight Watchers

This recipe follows Weight Watchers principles with lean plant-based protein from lentils, abundant non-starchy vegetables, minimal added fats, and no processed ingredients. The high fiber and protein content promotes satiety while keeping the dish naturally lower in points.

Instructions

1

Rinse the lentils in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water, picking out any debris or stones. Set aside to drain.

2 min
2

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.

2 min
3
10 min

Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the onion is translucent, about 6-8 minutes.

4
1 min

Add the minced garlic, oregano, thyme, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant.

5

Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and stir to combine with the vegetables, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

1 min
6

Add the rinsed lentils, broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, and bay leaf to the pot. Stir to combine.

1 min
7
20 min

Increase heat to high and bring the stew to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

8
15 min

Add the diced zucchini and red bell pepper to the pot. Stir to combine, then continue simmering uncovered for another 15 minutes until the lentils are tender and the vegetables are cooked through.

9
3 min

Stir in the chopped spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted. The stew should be thick but still slightly soupy; add more broth if needed.

10

Remove the bay leaves and discard. Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.

1 min
11

Ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.

2 min

Frequently Asked Questions