Description
Warm, hearty, and incredibly satisfying, this Vegan Lentil Mushroom Stew is the perfect easy dinner for busy weeknights or cozy weekends. Made with protein-rich lentils, earthy mushrooms, fresh vegetables, and flavorful herbs, this one-pot meal is healthy, budget-friendly, and ideal for meal prep. Whether you’re searching for an easy recipe, healthy dinner, plant-based comfort food, or new dinner ideas, this delicious stew is sure to become a favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dried green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup chopped kale or spinach
- 1 diced potato
- Splash of red wine
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the mushrooms and cook until browned.
- Add the tomato paste, thyme, and smoked paprika, cooking for another minute.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes and vegetable broth, then stir in the lentils and bay leaf.
- Add the diced potato and red wine if using.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 35–45 minutes until the lentils are tender.
- Stir in the kale or spinach during the last 5 minutes if desired.
- Remove the bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Brown the mushrooms well to develop the richest flavor.
- Add a splash of vegetable broth when reheating if the stew becomes too thick.
- This stew tastes even better after resting overnight in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot Cooking, Simmering
- Cuisine: American, Vegan Comfort Food
Keywords: Vegan Lentil Mushroom Stew, vegan stew, lentil mushroom stew, healthy dinner, easy dinner, one pot meal, vegan comfort food, plant based recipe, lentil recipe, mushroom recipe, meal prep, healthy recipe, cozy dinner, vegetarian stew