Hearty Vegetable and Polenta Soup
Hearty Vegetable and Polenta Soup
Ingredients
For the Soup Base
- 2 shallots, medium, finely chopped
- 1 red onion, medium, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the Hearty Additions
- 1 sweet potato, large, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup lentils, dry brown or green, rinsed
- 4 cups kale, packed, tough stems removed, chopped
- 4 cups spinach, packed
- 18 ounces tube of polenta, 1 tube, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
For Garnish
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetables: Finely chop the shallots, chop the red onion and celery, mince the garlic, and peel and dice the sweet potato into 1/2-inch cubes. Rinse the dry lentils thoroughly under cold water.
⏱️ 15 min
- 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the chopped shallots, red onion, celery, and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Pour in the vegetable broth and crushed tomatoes. Add the diced sweet potato, rinsed lentils, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the lentils and sweet potato are tender.
⏱️ 25 min
- 4
While the soup simmers, prepare the polenta. Carefully remove the polenta from its packaging and slice it into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Once the lentils and sweet potato are tender, add the chopped kale and spinach to the pot. Stir until the greens have wilted, which should take about 3 to 5 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min
- 6
Gently add the sliced polenta rounds to the soup. Stir carefully to incorporate them without breaking them apart too much. Continue to simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the polenta to heat through and absorb some of the soup's flavors.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Ladle the hearty soup into bowls and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Hearty Vegetable and Polenta Soup
Ingredients
For the Soup Base
- 2 shallots, medium, finely chopped
- 1 red onion, medium, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the Hearty Additions
- 1 sweet potato, large, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup lentils, dry brown or green, rinsed
- 4 cups kale, packed, tough stems removed, chopped
- 4 cups spinach, packed
- 18 ounces tube of polenta, 1 tube, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
For Garnish
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetables: Finely chop the shallots, chop the red onion and celery, mince the garlic, and peel and dice the sweet potato into 1/2-inch cubes. Rinse the dry lentils thoroughly under cold water.
⏱️ 15 min - 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the chopped shallots, red onion, celery, and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Pour in the vegetable broth and crushed tomatoes. Add the diced sweet potato, rinsed lentils, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the lentils and sweet potato are tender.
⏱️ 25 min - 4
While the soup simmers, prepare the polenta. Carefully remove the polenta from its packaging and slice it into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Once the lentils and sweet potato are tender, add the chopped kale and spinach to the pot. Stir until the greens have wilted, which should take about 3 to 5 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min - 6
Gently add the sliced polenta rounds to the soup. Stir carefully to incorporate them without breaking them apart too much. Continue to simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the polenta to heat through and absorb some of the soup's flavors.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Ladle the hearty soup into bowls and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
⏱️ 3 min