Slow Cooker Lentil Stew Recipe: Healthy, Easy, and Budget-Friendly
Slow cooker lentil stew is a hearty, comforting dish that is easy to prepare and packed with nutritional benefits. It's budget-friendly and can be customized with various vegetables and spices to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- 1 cup green or brown lentils
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumi
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the lentils thoroughly under cold water.
- Peel and dice the carrots, potatoes, and onions. Chop the celery.
- Pre-measure spices like cumin, paprika, thyme, and garlic.
- Place hearty vegetables at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add the rinsed lentils on top of the vegetables.
- Sprinkle the spices over the lentils.
- Pour in the broth until all ingredients are just covered.
- Gently stir the mixture to combine.
- Set the slow cooker to low heat for 6-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
- Check the texture of the stew and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
Lentil stew freezes well for up to 3 months. Store in airtight containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Adjust seasoning as needed.