Sweet Potato Lentil Stew Recipe (2024)

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Earthy Sweet Potato Lentil Stew recipe with deep notes of cumin, coriander and smoked paprika. Hearty, packed with clean protein and micronutrients from fresh dark leafy kale and spinach, this recipe needs to stay on repeat all year long.

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Sweet Potato Lentil Stew

This wintery lentil stew starts with a base of aromatics, the usual suspects: garlic, onion, carrots and celery. To that you’ll add in tons of deep comforting flavors with a few earthy spices that will all slowly be absorbed into the sweet potatoes and lentils as they simmer away together.

To make it thick and creamy without the addition of any oils, i simply pureed about a third of it and mixed it all back into the pot. Perfection! Plus our kitchen shack smells simply amazing by the way!

You can get creative here and use a mix of lentils and split peas in which case remember to soak your split peas in hot water for a couple of hours or overnight before using. I don’t like using the red lentil variety here just because they cook in about 15 minutes and literally turn into much. If you insist however, make sure to cut back the cooking time and simmer them together with the sweet potatoes from the start.

You’ll Love this Lentil Stew! It’s:

One Pot

Easy to Make

Comforting

Hearty & Filling

Brimming with Nutritious Clean Protein

Dairy & Gluten-Free

WFPB Vegan No Oil

Divine!

On Storage

This soup also makes great leftovers and reheats well, you might need to add a splash of water or veggie stock to stretch it out to your liking. As it is the case with most soups and stews, I beg to argue the flavor also gets better with time, so make a big batch to have for two, three days of leftovers.

If you prefer to turn it into more of a thinner lentil soup rather than a stew, simply add more veggie stock and adjust seasonings to taste. It’s magical like that.

Lentil Recipes

  • Potato Red Lentil Stew
  • Lentil Loaf
  • Cucumber Tomato Lentil Salad
  • Best Vegan Lentil Soup
  • Vegan Lasagna.

Sweet Potato Lentil Stew Recipe (7)

4.84 from 6 votes

Sweet Potato Lentil Stew

Earthy Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Stew recipe with cumin, coriander and smoked paprika. Hearty, detoxing and loaded with protein and micro nutrients from fresh kale and spinach, this recipe needs to be on repeat all winter long.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:1 hour hr

Total Time:1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups organic green or brown lentils
  • 1 large sweet potato (cut into small cubes)
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 1 large carrot -diced
  • 1 rib celery -diced
  • 5 cloves garlic -minced
  • 9-10 cups water or veggie stock (low sodium)
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika (sweet or hot)
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 leaf bay
  • 2-3 tbsp red wine vinegar or fresh lime
  • 1 pinch red chili flakes (to taste)
  • 3-4 cups kale or baby spinach
  • sea salt + black pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add a splash of water and saute the diced onion with a pinch of sea salt until translucent. Stir in the carrot and celery cook a few more minutes until softened.

  • Add the garlic and give it a good stir before adding the spices: cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, onion powder, turmeric and bay leaf.

  • Meanwhile rinse the lentils then add them into the pot. Cover with the veggie stock or water and bring to a simmer. Cook covered on low flame for 30 minutes.

  • Taste and adjust seasonings with sea salt and black paper then add the sweet potatoes to the stew. Cook another 10 to 15 minutes until softened. Discard bay leaf.

  • Ladle about 1/3 of the stew into a blender and puree until smooth. Add it back into the pot with the stew and stir to combine.If the stew is too thick for your liking just add more water or veggie stock to stretch it out a bit. Remember to adjust seasonings.

  • Add the kale or spinach and cook just a couple of minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and stir in some red wine vinegar or a hit of lime to balance out the flavors. Serve hot with spicy chili flakes on top.

    Note: If you want to turn it into more of a soup rather than a stew, simply addmoreveggie stock and adjust seasonings.

Crock Pot Method:

  • Add all the ingredients to your crock pot and cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 8 hours. Discard bay leaf, remove about 1/3 of the soup and carefully transfer to a powerful blender. Puree until smooth and add back into the stew. Taste and adjust seasonings with sea salt and black pepper.

    Sweet Potato Lentil Stew Recipe (8)

Notes

  • If you want to make this more of a soup rather than a stew, simply add more veggie stock and adjust seasonings.

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 14g | Sodium: 47mg | Potassium: 713mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6375IU | Vitamin C: 34.9mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Morrocan

Keyword: plantricious, Sweet Potato Lentil Stew, vegan,, wfpb

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 211kcal

Author: Florentina

Sweet Potato Lentil Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are lentils and sweet potatoes good for you? ›

Lentils and sweet potatoes, when combined, provide a complementary amino acid profile that can contribute to a more complete protein intake. While lentils are considered a good source of plant-based protein, they are not considered a complete protein on their own as they lack some essential amino acids.

Why is my lentil soup too thick? ›

If the soup seems too thick add 1 more cup of vegetable stock (or water). Taste test and adjust seasonings as needed. Using an immersion blender or regular blender puree half of the soup (don't skip this part...the texture of smooth/chunky is the best!) Keep the soup on low heat until ready to serve.

What do lentils do to your body? ›

Lentils have plenty of folate, iron and vitamin B1, which also support your heart health. Lentils may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, by lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure. One study found that eating lentils led to greater reductions in blood pressure than eating chickpeas, peas or beans.

Why do I feel so good after eating lentils? ›

Lentils are rich in fibre, folate and potassium making them a great choice for the heart and for managing blood pressure and cholesterol. They are also a source of energising iron and vitamin B1 which helps maintain a steady heartbeat.

What happens if you eat too much lentil soup? ›

For all its benefits, the fiber in lentils is hard to break down. That's why it can cause gas and cramping if you eat too much of it.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

Yes, you can overcook lentils; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

Can you eat too many lentils in soup? ›

Eating half a cup of cooked lentils gives you lots of essential nutrients and their high fiber content makes you feel full. However, the fiber in lentils can be hard for your body to break down. Eating too many lentils can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.

Is eating lentils everyday good for you? ›

Eating more lentils may help people maintain a healthy weight or lose weight. Replacing energy-dense (or high calorie) foods with legumes such as lentils can help people prevent or manage obesity and lose weight. Research suggests that regularly eating lentils may help with the management and prevention of diabetes.

What does eating sweet potatoes do to your body? ›

The bottom line

They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.

What to pair with lentils to make it a complete protein? ›

Grains Grains, such as rice, oats, wheat, rye and corn, can act as complementary proteins for legumes such as lentils. They contain the cysteine and methionine that lentils lack, and lentils provide the lysine that grains do not contain enough of. Whole grains are a more nutritious option than refined grains.

What are 5 benefits of eating lentils? ›

Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They're also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber.

References

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