Description
Hearty lentil soup with ground beef delivers a comforting symphony of flavors from Mediterranean kitchens. Packed with protein and warmth, this rustic dish offers you a satisfying meal that nourishes both body and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 0.5 pound (226 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 (14.5-ounce/411 grams) can diced tomatoes
Herbs, Spices, and Other Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (192 grams) French lentils or brown/green lentils
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
- A few tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium heat for 5 minutes, breaking it into crumbles and draining excess fat if needed.
- Introduce olive oil and sauté onions, celery, carrots, and garlic until vegetables soften and become translucent, approximately 5 minutes, avoiding browning by adjusting heat.
- Pour in diced tomatoes with their juices, broth, lentils, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper, then elevate to a boiling temperature.
- Reduce heat to low, cover pot partially, and allow soup to simmer gently for 45-50 minutes until lentils reach a tender consistency.
- Extract and discard bay leaves from the soup.
- Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, maintaining a rustic texture. Alternatively, transfer 2 cups of soup to a standard blender, process until slightly smooth, and reintegrate into the pot.
- Enhance the soup’s presentation by sprinkling fresh chopped parsley on top and serve piping hot.
Notes
- Check lentil cooking times carefully, as green or brown lentils might need longer simmering compared to red or yellow varieties, potentially requiring 10-15 extra minutes of cooking.
- Drain excess beef fat completely to prevent greasy soup texture and reduce overall calorie content, enhancing the dish’s healthiness.
- Consider substituting ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner protein option that suits different dietary preferences like low-fat or vegetarian diets.
- Customize soup thickness by adjusting liquid amounts – add more broth for a thinner consistency or simmer uncovered to reduce and create a more concentrated, robust flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg