🍲 Beef and Lentil Soup 🥩

Quick to Prepare, Delightful to Savor: A Warm Bowl of Comfort for Any Day!

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️

- 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 lb ground beef or stew meat, diced
- 1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 6 cups beef broth
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 cup kale or spinach, chopped (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳

1. Brown the Beef: In a large pot over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. For stew meat, brown all sides. Drain any excess fat.

2. Sauté the Vegetables: Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and sauté for about 5-7 minutes until tender. Include the garlic and cook for another minute.

3. Add Lentils and Broth: Mix in the lentils, tomatoes, beef broth, thyme, cumin, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.

4. Simmer: Lower the heat and let the soup simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until lentils are tender. If desired, add kale or spinach in the last 5 minutes.

5. Serve: Remove the bay leaf. Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎

- Calories: 350 per serving
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Proteins: 28g
- Fats: 12g
- Fiber: 15g

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡

- Meat Choices: Both ground beef and stew meat work well. Choose lean ground beef for less fat.
- Herb Variations: Experiment with herbs like rosemary or oregano for different flavors.
- Make Ahead: This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together.

⏳ Preparation time 🕒

Preparation time: 15 minutes | Cooking time: 50 minutes | Serving: 6