Winter Vegetable Lentil Soup

Featured in: Simple Weeknight Dinners

This comforting winter dish combines a variety of hearty vegetables like carrots, parsnips, turnip, and kale with protein-packed lentils. Sautéed aromatic onion and garlic set the flavor base, while spices such as thyme, cumin, and smoked paprika add warmth. Simmered until tender in a rich vegetable broth with diced tomatoes, this soup offers balanced nutrition and cozy flavors. Ideal for cold days, it’s simple to prepare and adaptable with leafy greens or spices to suit your taste.

Updated on Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:21:00 GMT
Steaming Winter Vegetable & Lentil Soup with vibrant veggies and hearty lentils, ready to serve. Save
Steaming Winter Vegetable & Lentil Soup with vibrant veggies and hearty lentils, ready to serve. | dunebasil.com

A hearty nourishing soup packed with seasonal winter vegetables and protein-rich lentils perfect for warming up on cold days.

I first made this soup on a chilly weekend using whatever root vegetables were in the fridge. It quickly became a warming staple that my whole family looks forward to each winter season.

Ingredients

  • Olive oil: 2 tbsp
  • Onion: 1 large diced
  • Garlic: 2 cloves minced
  • Carrots: 2 medium peeled and diced
  • Parsnips: 2 peeled and diced
  • Celery: 2 stalks diced
  • Turnip: 1 small peeled and cubed
  • Sweet potato: 1 small peeled and cubed
  • Kale or Swiss chard: 1 cup chopped stems removed
  • Lentils: 1 cup dried brown or green rinsed
  • Vegetable broth: 6 cups
  • Diced tomatoes: 1 can 14 oz 400 g with juice
  • Bay leaf: 1
  • Dried thyme: 1 tsp
  • Ground cumin: 1 tsp
  • Smoked paprika: ½ tsp
  • Ground black pepper: ½ tsp
  • Salt: 1 tsp or to taste
  • Fresh parsley: 2 tbsp chopped optional
  • Lemon juice: Juice of ½ lemon optional

Instructions

Start the aromatics:
In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
Cook the vegetables:
Add garlic carrots parsnips celery turnip and sweet potato. Sauté for 5–6 minutes stirring occasionally.
Simmer the soup:
Stir in lentils diced tomatoes with juice vegetable broth bay leaf thyme cumin smoked paprika black pepper and salt.
Boil then reduce:
Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
Add greens:
Stir in kale or Swiss chard and simmer for 5 more minutes until wilted.
Final touches:
Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with more salt pepper or lemon juice as desired. Serve hot garnished with fresh parsley if using.
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Sharing this soup around the dinner table always brings back memories of snowy evenings and everyone reaching for seconds.

Required Tools

Large soup pot cutting board and knife wooden spoon ladle

Allergen Information

No common allergens present. Always verify packaged ingredients if required for dietary needs.

Nutritional Information

Per serving: Calories 210 Total Fat 4 g Carbohydrates 36 g Protein 10 g

A warm bowl of Winter Vegetable & Lentil Soup, a comforting vegan dish, garnished with fresh parsley. Save
A warm bowl of Winter Vegetable & Lentil Soup, a comforting vegan dish, garnished with fresh parsley. | dunebasil.com

This soup is perfect for a cozy dinner and even tastes better the next day. Enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and crusty bread.

Winter Vegetable Lentil Soup

A nourishing bowl of winter vegetables and lentils simmered to melt-in-mouth tenderness.

Prep Time
20 minutes
Time to Cook
40 minutes
Overall Time
60 minutes
Recipe by Dune Basil Lea Romano


Skill Level Easy

Cuisine International

Makes 6 Portions

Diet Information Vegan-Friendly, No Dairy, No Gluten

What You'll Need

Vegetables

01 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 1 large onion, diced
03 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
05 2 parsnips, peeled and diced
06 2 celery stalks, diced
07 1 small turnip, peeled and cubed
08 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
09 1 cup chopped kale or Swiss chard, stems removed

Legumes & Grains

01 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed

Liquids

01 6 cups vegetable broth
02 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juice

Spices & Seasonings

01 1 bay leaf
02 1 teaspoon dried thyme
03 1 teaspoon ground cumin
04 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
05 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
06 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Finishing

01 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
02 Juice of ½ lemon (optional)

How to Make It

Step 01

Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook 3 to 4 minutes until softened.

Step 02

Add Root Vegetables: Incorporate minced garlic, diced carrots, parsnips, celery, turnip, and sweet potato. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 03

Combine Lentils and Liquids: Add rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes with their juice, vegetable broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, ground cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir to combine.

Step 04

Simmer: Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until lentils and vegetables are tender.

Step 05

Add Leafy Greens: Stir in chopped kale or Swiss chard and continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes until wilted.

Step 06

Final Seasoning: Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice according to taste.

Step 07

Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

Essential Tools

  • Large soup pot
  • Cutting board and knife
  • Wooden spoon
  • Ladle

Allergy Details

Review ingredients for allergies, and talk to your doctor if you're uncertain.
  • Contains no common allergens; verify broth and canned tomatoes for gluten or other allergen traces if sensitive.

Nutrition per serving

Nutritional details are for reference only. They're not a substitute for medical advice.
  • Energy: 210
  • Fats: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36 g
  • Proteins: 10 g