Name: Very Green Lentil Soup
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish; 2 large yellow onions, chopped; 1.25 teaspoons salt, divided; 2 tablespoons plus 4 cups water, divided; 1 cup French green (Le Puy) or brown lentils; 8 large green chard leaves; 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, scrubbed; 12 cups gently packed spinach (about 10 ounces), any tough stems trimmed; 4 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces; 5 cups vegetable broth, store-bought or homemade; 2 cups chopped broccoli; 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground (see Tip); 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander; Freshly ground pepper to taste; 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint; 0.5 jalapeño pepper, minced; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste; Crumbled feta cheese for garnish

Cook Time:

1 hr 5 mins

Additional Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 20 mins

Servings:

8

Yield:

8 servings, about 1 2/3 cups each

Nutrition Profile:

Dairy-Free Egg-Free Gluten-Free Healthy Immunity High Fiber Low-Calorie Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegan Vegetarian

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
2 large yellow onions, chopped
1 ¼ teaspoons salt, divided
2 tablespoons plus 4 cups water, divided
1 cup French green (Le Puy) or brown lentils
8 large green chard leaves
1 medium Yukon Gold potato, scrubbed
12 cups gently packed spinach (about 10 ounces), any tough stems trimmed
4 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 cups vegetable broth, store-bought or homemade
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground (see Tip)
½ teaspoon ground coriander
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
½ jalapeño pepper, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
Crumbled feta cheese for garnish

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons water and cover. Cook, stirring frequently until the pan cools down, and then occasionally, always covering the pan again, until the onions are greatly reduced and have a deep caramel color, 25 to 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, rinse lentils and pick out any small stones; combine the lentils with the remaining 4 cups water in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Trim the white ribs out of the chard; chop the greens and slice the ribs (keep in separate piles). Cut potato into 1/2 -inch dice. Chop spinach; set aside.
When the lentils have cooked for 20 minutes, stir in the chard ribs, potato, scallions, broth and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt; return to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Stir in the chard leaves, broccoli, cumin and coriander. When the onions are caramelized, stir a little of the simmering liquid into them; add them to the soup. Return to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in the reserved spinach, cilantro, mint, jalapeno and pepper; return to a simmer, cover and cook until the spinach is tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes more. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or pepper, if desired. Garnish each bowl of soup with a drizzle of olive oil and crumbled feta cheese.

Tips

Tip: Toast cumin seeds in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly. Grind to a fine powder in a spice mill, blender or clean coffee grinder.

To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

181	Calories
4g	Fat
29g	Carbs
9g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about 1 2/3 cups
Calories 181
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 29g	10%
Dietary Fiber 9g	34%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 9g	19%
Total Fat 4g	5%
Saturated Fat 1g	3%
Vitamin A 5008IU	100%
Vitamin C 28mg	31%
Folate 206mcg	51%
Sodium 535mg	23%
Calcium 119mg	9%
Iron 5mg	30%
Magnesium 91mg	22%
Potassium 793mg	17%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.