Description
Hearty “detox crockpot lentil soup” delivers nourishing comfort with Mediterranean-inspired flavors packed with wholesome ingredients. Wellness seekers can savor this simple, nutrient-dense meal that restores and revitalizes in one satisfying bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Base:
- 1 ½ cups dried green or brown lentils, rinsed (340 grams)
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium sweet potato or Yukon gold potato, diced
- 1 (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chopped kale or spinach
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 6 cups vegetable broth (or water + bouillon)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for brightness)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the crockpot by layering lentils, diced onions, julienned carrots, chopped celery, minced garlic, and cubed sweet potato into the slow cooker basin.
- Sprinkle in selected spices, ensuring even distribution across the vegetable mixture.
- Pour vegetable broth over the ingredients, gently stirring to combine all components and prevent ingredient clumping.
- Set crockpot to low temperature, allowing the soup to simmer and develop rich flavors for approximately 6-7 hours, or alternatively use high temperature for 4-5 hours.
- Check vegetable and lentil tenderness by gently piercing with a fork, ensuring they have reached optimal softness.
- During the final 15-20 minutes of cooking, incorporate fresh chopped kale or spinach leaves into the soup, allowing them to wilt and integrate seamlessly.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the soup, stirring to distribute the bright, citrusy notes throughout the preparation.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasonings, adding additional salt, pepper, or spices as needed to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
- Serve the soup piping hot, preferably in deep ceramic bowls that showcase the soup’s hearty texture and colorful ingredients.
Notes
- Customize cooking time based on your slow cooker’s performance, as each model varies slightly in heat intensity and cooking speed.
- Choose green or brown lentils for best texture, avoiding red lentils which can become mushy during long cooking periods.
- Boost protein content by adding diced tofu or cooked quinoa during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a more substantial meal.
- Enhance flavor complexity by toasting whole spices like cumin or coriander seeds before adding them to the crockpot, which deepens the aromatic profile of the soup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 78 hours (low) or 45 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg