This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Quick and easy vegan red lentil stew recipe made with potatoes, buttery red lentils, spinach or kale and fire roasted tomatoes. One pot, ready under 30 minutes, healthy, oil free, delicious and simply the best!
Red Lentil Stew Recipe
‘Tis the season for steaming hot bowls of soups and stews!
Comforting golden potatoes and red lentils are simmered together with deliciously smoky roasted red bell peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika and herbs until thick, hearty and oh so flavorful. It’s a riff on a simple lentil soup recipe I first posted on the CiaoFlorentina blog a while back. The flavor profile stays the same but with extra hearty, filling ingredients in this version.
About the Lentils
Make sure to use the red lentils in this recipe, not green, brown or black beluga. There’s absolutely no need to soak the red variety and you can add them straight into the soup pot. They cook fast and break down into a beautiful creaminess naturally thickening the stew without any need for pureeing at all.
Oh my tastebuds!
As most recipes you’ll find on this blog, this stew also changes with the seasons and whatever is available in the pantry.
Out of Spinach?
No problem! Use chopped up chard, baby kale, escarole or collard greens instead, just remember to simmer those for a few extra minutes as they are tougher greens unlike the spinach. Alternatively you could add a bag of sweet green peas or green beans, for both texture, body and extra plant-based clean protein.
Ideally you’d serve this our homemade vegan crusty bread or flatbread, ladle over or hide under creamy mashed potatoes like avegan Shepherd’s pie.
Potato Swaps Ideas
- Favorite dumplings, gnocchi or tortellini
- Roasted cauliflower wings
- Wild rice, quinoa, farro or barley
- Crispy roasted broccoli
- Butternut squash or sweet potatoes
- Artichoke hearts
- Whole wheat pasta, orzo or fregola
- Dehydrated spaghetti squash nests in lieu of noodles
- + serve with plant based Italian sausages (pan seared or grilled).
More Soups + Stews
- Spiced Chickpea Stew
- Vegan Potato Soup
- Green Split Pea Soup
- Vegan White Bean Soup
- Coconut Lentil Soup
- Sweet Potato Soup
- Chunky Potato Dill Soup.
watch how to make vegan red lentil stew
4.86 from 7 votes
Vegan Red Lentil Stew with Spinach and Potatoes
Quick and easy vegan lentil stew recipe made with red lentils, potatoes, spinach and smoky fire roasted tomatoes, ready under 30 minutes.
Print Recipe
Prep Time:10 minutes mins
Total Time:10 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup red lentils ( rinsed well)
- 1 yellow onion - diced
- 6 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 carrots - sliced into rounds
- 14 oz canned fire roasted tomatoes - diced
- 2 red bell peppers - roasted & chopped
- 2 leaves bay
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 3 cups baby spinach ( kale, chard, dandelion greens)
- 6 cups water ( or vegetable stock) + more as needed
- 8 sprigs thyme
- 2 cups golden potatoes - diced into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 pinch sea salt + more to taste
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
If roasting your own peppers prepare them first by heating up a cast iron plate over medium high heat. Roast the bell peppers until charred all over and the skins turn black. Transfer to a bowl, cover and allow to cool off. Once cool enough to handle simple peel and discard the charred skins, sees and chore. Chop the peppers into 1/2 inch chunks and set aside until needed.
2 red bell peppers
Heat up a heavy bottom pot over medium low flame. Add a drizzle of olive oil (or a splash of water for WFPB Plantricious diets) together with the diced onion and a pinch of sea salt. Add the carrot and sautee together for about 5 minutes until the onion is translucent.
1 yellow onion, 1 pinch sea salt, 2 carrots
Add the bay leaf, thyme and garlic and give everything a good stir.
2 leaves bay, 8 sprigs thyme, 6 cloves garlic
Mix in the lentils, chopped roasted peppers, smoked paprika and canned tomatoes. Pour in the water.
1.5 cup red lentils, 14 oz canned fire roasted tomatoes, 2 red bell peppers, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 6 cups water ( or vegetable stock)
Bring the stew to a simmer and season to taste with sea salt.
1 pinch sea salt
Add the diced potatoes and cook everything together for about 15 minutes until both the potatoes and the lentils are cooked through.
2 cups golden potatoes
Discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks and add the spinach. Cover with the lid and allow it to wilt in the heat from the steam.
3 cups baby spinach
Serve hot with fresh herbs, chili flakes and a piece of crusty homemade bread.
WFPB + Plantricious
To make this recipe WFPBNO & Plantricious compliant make sure to sautee in veggie broth or water and omit any oil.
Video
Notes
- The Lentils - Make sure to use red lentils in this recipe, not green, brown or black beluga. There's absolutely no need to soak the red variety and you can add them straight into the soup pot. They cook fast and break down beautifully naturally thickening the stew.
Nutrition
Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 15g | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 941mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6515IU | Vitamin C: 68.9mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 6.8mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Lentil Stew, plant based, Red Lentil Stew
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 247kcal
Author: Florentina
