Crock-pots love lentils

Since Kyle and I have been making weekly meal plans (going on week four!) it’s become really apparent to me just how often we used to splurge on WF hot bars (as lazy backup dinner options). 

Even now that I know what’s on the menu for the days to come, I still have moments of weakness where I don’t really feel like cooking.  The simplicity and deliciousness of their pre-made eats call to me.  Of course it’s often towards the end of the week when the fridge is stark.  It doesn’t help that I’ve been on night shifts this week so Kyle and I don’t even overlap in our time at home.  Not eating together means I have to leave him notes about what I made, including what he can pair it with, what he should do with the leftovers, and what he has left over for his lunch the next day. 

God bless the crock-pot.

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Kyle loves lentil soup (like, seriously adores it, and won’t ever pass it up if he sees it on a menu) and has been begging for me to make it since forever ago.

So I did.

And it was awesome.  He was a very happy husband.  And I was a happy hippie.  Because it was vegan, cheaper than dirt, and made enough for dayyyyyys.

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Vegan Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups brown lentils
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 qt vegetable broth
  • 1 1/2 cups tomato soup (I used Imagine soup)
  • 2 large carrots, chopped
  • 1-2 stalks celery, chopped
  • a pinch of spices (cumin, paprika, basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, onion powder, garlic powder [and a dash of TJ’s 21 seasoning salute])

It will look like a ton of liquid, but the lentils absorb it.  Cook in slow cooker on low for 7 hours.  You can stir part way through if you want.

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Yum. 

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In other news, our tomato plants are going crazy.  It’s awesome.  We used to have a million little green goobers…and all of a sudden they are all red!! 

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You don’t need to do much to these…olive oil, balsamic, salt & pepper.  Done.

I like summer.  I like living by the beach. 

I like that it’s light out late.  And warm during the day, and cooler in the evening. 

And I like hanging out with the windows and doors open.  So I can keep an eye on our tomatoes. 

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Comments (35)

  1. jess

    ooo, ooo, ooo, i LOVE it when i’m the first to post!!!

    of course i have to comment on the fact that your pot of lentils looks like — nevermind.

    and speaking of the hot food bar at WF, i went there last night after the bar. it’s a testament to my dedication to being “healthy” that i got wasted at happy hour and then went to whole foods to get hot-foods-bar wasted. their samosas are the shit. period. amen.

    and i did something else last night when i was all fueled up with liquid courage… text me and i’ll tell you. you will DIE. i’m trying to decide if i should blog about it or not. i think kyle may kill me if i blog about it, so i’ll save it for my book that i someday hope to write.

    miss you. love you. xoxo

  2. coco

    I totally neglect lentils.. I love Amy’s lentil soup, but I have never made it myself- or maybe I have and it was just forgettable! I never thought to make it in the crockpot before- and now that I have one I guess I have a good excuse! Those tomatoes look amazing, there is nothing like homegrown 🙂 Looks like you have a green thumb

  3. Katie @ Peace Love & Oats

    this looks perfect, and so easy! Definitely making this soon.

  4. Caity @ Moi Contre La Vie

    Going to buy a crock pot. Right now.

  5. Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy

    what gorgeous tomato plants!! oh my gosh, lucky you! and yum, i love lentil soup too! there’s something SO comforting about it. never used TJ’s 21 spice though…i’ll have to pick some up – i’m intrigued:)

  6. Ammie

    I love lentils but I’ve never cooked them at home before. I may have to try your recipe…I’ve rarely messed up a crockpot recipe. 🙂 Have you been to Bloom? They make a divine tandoori chicken (will sub tofu) over a fluffy bed of quinoa and lentils. It makes my mouth water just typing that!!

  7. Brigid

    I love lentil soup, too, and its simplicity. I often make a big batch with no seasonings and then add different spices each time I eat it — Indian one day, Italian another, Mexican, French, etc.

    Also, your apartment is ridic. I am super jealous.

  8. Courtney

    I am with Kyle on this one–lentil soup is my favorite! I have never put tomato soup in it before though…I need to try that next time!

    Courtney

  9. Emily

    Wow, that’s actually one of the most simple crock-pot recipes that I’ve seen. And it looks delicious!

  10. Elise (Post author)

    i cant stop thinking about our 5 am text exchange yesterday…i was literally laughing my ass off at you all day.
    god i miss you.

  11. Elise (Post author)

    thanks!!! we are in love with it too 🙂

    that such a clever way to do lentils!! i may have to do that enxt time – theyll never get old.

  12. Elise (Post author)

    where is bloom? ive never been but im allllll about good indian food recs.

  13. Elise (Post author)

    get it! its good in and on everything! i promise.

  14. Elise (Post author)

    yes. it will make your life so wonderfully simple.

  15. Elise (Post author)

    yes!!! after our rosemary and basil plants at our old place didnt last, i thought i was doomed, but this definitely reinforces that it wasnt me 🙂 phew. tomatoes are coming out of our ears! i love it!

  16. Ammie

    It’s on Pico between Fairfax and Hauser. It’s not an Indian place but more of an eclectic mix of healthy food and yummy juices. They have amazing breakfast items…actually everything I’ve ordered there has been amazing. You can check out their menu at http://www.bloomcafe.com. Let me know if you try it. It’s become our Saturday brunch after yoga stop.

  17. Elise (Post author)

    excellent. now its on my radar.

  18. Bren

    Thank God for this post!! I’m starting a new program in college next week and was starting to freak for lack of ideas of things to get on the table for the kids. I won’t let them eat crap because it’s easy but now I get easy and healthy!! You’re awesome!!

  19. Elise (Post author)

    thanks bren! i can definitely appreciate the time crunch even without kids…way to make healthy eats a priority even while mega multitasking!! you rock!

  20. Haley

    I made this yesterday and after one bite my husband stopped eating to give me a hug 🙂

    Thanks for the awesome recipe!!

  21. Elise (Post author)

    thats the CUTEST response ive ever heard of!!! your husband is fantastic 🙂

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  23. Vanessa

    Really wanted to make the soup for tonight, but been busy all morning. Do you know if I can shorten the cook time by putting the crock pot on high for part of it?

  24. Elise (Post author)

    hi vanessa. i have a feeling it will work but i dont know because i havent tried it. maybe 4-5 hours on high? let me know if you tried it.

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  26. Emily Arnold

    Hope I can get emails from your website! Love it. Anyway, yesterday I make a big batch of hamburger and lentil soup. On low, the lentils never cooked after several hours. Put it on high, same thing. Put back on low for o-nite, of course same thing again. Am thinking lentils are too old and am presently searching for information re the subject. Yes, you can change from low to high. I can’t wait for more from you, you Hungry Hungry Hipipie! By the way, I’m a Hungry Hungry Senior. Hmmm, I should use that.

  27. Elise (Post author)

    my guess is the lentils were old. I’ve never heard of lentils not cooking – especially with that amount of time. good luck!

  28. Emily Arnold

    My hamburger/lentil soup never completely cooked. So what did I do? I stuck my little immersible blender in the pot and let ‘er rip. The soup got thick, very few hard lentils left and all the rest of them were blended. The soup, by the way, was great. Also, I often do this with certain leftovers plus a couple of flavorful additives.

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  30. Jimena

    Hola, yo le agrego un puñado de arroz y una papa en cubitos

  31. Angela

    I cook these in a regular pot and I add water as needed but your recipe is RIGHT ON! 🙂

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  33. Will

    Can u cook this on high ? Vegan lentil soup ..

  34. Will

    Can you cook this on high for half the time? Vegan lentil soup.

  35. Elise (Post author)

    Probably, but I haven’t tried it. Let me know if you do with success!

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