One Pot Smoky Lentil Stew

Do you want to know what happened in Kansas today? They closed schools because of EXTREME COLD. Like…no snow…no ice…no dangerous driving conditions…just cold weather. The concern is that they don’t want kids waiting outside for the buses when it’s like negative ten degrees. So hopefully that gives you a nice frigid visual of the  weather outside right now. Growing up in North Carolina where “extreme cold” was like twenty-five degrees, it was mind blowing to me that schools were canceled here just because of cold and no snow.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not in disagreement – I wouldn’t want my kids standing outside waiting for the bus when it’s negative ten outside, but I’m also a massive baby about cold weather. Example: I refuse to leave my house today, so Ford’s nanny, Catie, is going grocery shopping for me so I can stay inside. That’s how much I hate cold weather. I dread walking outside to get the mail, and then instantly upon reentering the house contemplate taking a hot bath ASAP.

Props to those of you who live in places like North Dakota and Minnesota who would think this Kansas winter sounds like a crisp fall day. I would literally hibernate in my house all winter long and never let my face touch the outside world. This is why it’s a good thing that we are moving to Arizona in a few months. I can handle heat – bring on ragingly hot temperatures and I’m good. But anything below fifty degrees, and I’m whining about it. #firstworldproblems

The only bonus of freezing cold weather? Warm, cozy comfort food is a million times more appetizing. I’m talkin’ about this soup people…this soup will warm up any cold day!

It’s super thick, extremely hearty, and loaded with warm, smoky flavor. Let’s talk about what we’ve got goin’ on in here:

• Yummy, aromatic vegetables: onion, garlic, carrots, celery
• Hearty sweet potatoes and lentils
• Fire roasted tomatoes
• Flavor bomb seasonings: smoked paprika, cumin, and coriander
• Lots of veggie stock

We’ve got three main delicious things happening that make this stew so dang yummy: the heartiness, the slight sweetness, and the smokiness. The heartiness comes mainly from the lentils, the slight sweetness comes from the sweet potato, and the smokiness comes from a combination of the fire roasted tomatoes and the smoked paprika. The best part of all this, in my opinion, is the combination of the smoky paprika and the sweet potatoes. Those two elements play off each other so deliciously and turn this stew into something really special!

Between the lentils and the sweet potatoes, this hearty stew sticks to your ribs and keeps you full for a looonngg time. It’s always frustrating when you eat a big lunch or dinner and then are already feeling munchy within a few hours. I like meals that really last and keep me full until the next meal. Because I will go to TOWN on some snacks otherwise.

Some people have dessert weaknesses, some people have soda or caffeine weaknesses – I have a snack weakness. If I’m hungry and there is something crunchy and salty lurking around the house, you can expect there to be nothing but crumbs in the bottom of that bag within minutes if I get my zero-self-control hands on it. STRUG.

I lightly skimmed over the caffeine weakness earlier acting like that’s also not an issue for me. LOL I drink like 3 cups of coffee each day. #confessions

JUST LOVE ME.

This recipe is 1 Freestyle SmartPoint per serving!

One Pot Smoky Lentil Stew

• Author: Annie Chesson
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 3 stalks of celery, diced
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced into bite sized cubes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups uncooked red lentils
• 1 14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon coriander
• 2 32 oz boxes vegetable stock

Instructions

1. In a large pot (a dutch oven works great here), add your olive oil over medium high heat
2. When hot, add all your veggies except for the sweet potato into the pot – season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onions have softened
3. Add your sweet potatoes and paprika, cumin, and coriander. Stir to combine
4. Add your fire roasted tomatoes, lentils, and veggie stock. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine
5. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and cooked through, about 20-30 minutes. Season to taste and serve!
6. Top with a little bit of sour cream and cilantro (optional)

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cup
• Calories: 101
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 121 mg
• Fat: 2 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!

In the mood for more yummy lentil recipes? Check these out:

One Pot Vegan Lentil Chili

Crock Pot Moroccan Lentil Soup [Vegan]