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? ›

Smoky Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are a filling, nutritious dinner packed with fiber and plant protein. Serve these vegan stuffed sweet potatoes with a crisp side salad for a flavorful meatless meal. This meal combines sweet and smoky flavors, creamy and crunchy textures, and loads of good-for-you nutrients.

What can you add to lentils to make them taste better? ›

Add a tablespoon of paprika and a small very very finely diced onion to the lentils after you have cooked them and stir in well. Leave on heat for a few minutes for flavours to blend. If you can't eat onion use a level teaspoon of Asa Foetida powder instead. Be sure and add salt to the dish.

Why is my lentil soup so thick? ›

If things get a bit too thick: Often times lentil (or other bean soups) will substantially thicken up, especially overnight; if this happens and the soup becomes a bit too thick, simply thin it out with a little water or stock.

How many sweet potatoes in a pound? ›

After surveying the vegetable selection we discovered that 1 pound of sweet potatoes is equal to 2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes. We decided to use a medium sweet potato for our measurements. We found that it took 1.25 medium sweet potatoes to obtain 1 cup of sliced potato.

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.

Is lentils healthier than beans? ›

Nutritional properties: Lentils have a lower phytate content than beans and are lower in indigestible sugars, which means that they are less likely to lead to flatulence than beans. Beans are also slightly higher in carbs than lentils, though their dietary fiber content can vary between legumes.

What can I put in lentils to prevent gas? ›

Cooking beans with a large strip of dried kombu, a Japanese dried kelp, may minimise their gas-producing properties too. This strong-smelling spice, often known as “hing”, offers relief from stomach gas. Add a small pinch to dal or khichadi - a rice and lentil dish.

Why do you add baking soda to lentils? ›

Legumes will cook faster in slightly alkaline water and there are many recipes suggesting adding sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to the cooking water. This method will soften the legumes but will leach important nutrition into the water.

What does baking soda do to lentils? ›

Baking soda can help significantly since it increases the pH of the water, disintegrating that pectin and allowing beans to soften quicker. Baking soda also removes minerals from hard water, which can prevent beans from hydrating as quickly.

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.

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

Since lentils are starchy, earthy in flavor, and can be on the bland side, there are many ways to make them flavorful, including by adding them into soup. When other ingredients are introduced that complement lentils like onions, garlic, spices, and lemon, the taste is out of this world.

Why did my lentil soup turn black? ›

the color change you've observed is from oxidation. If you want to prevent this, lay some plastic wrap over the surface of your lentils to prevent air from getting to them, or add some acid, like lime juice, to the recipe.

What is the difference between sweet potato and yam? ›

Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

Can canned sweet potatoes be used instead of fresh? ›

Canned or frozen sweet potatoes may be substituted for the fresh form in any recipe calling for cooked sweet potatoes as the starting point. Canned sweet potatoes are generally smaller in diameter because of their better canning qualities.

How many sweet potatoes is 4 cups? ›

For cooking purposes, 1 pound of sweet potatoes equals about three medium whole, 2 cups mashed or 3½ to 4 cups chopped.

Do sweet potatoes and lentils make a complete protein? ›

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.

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? ›

Sweet potatoes can boost your intake of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Also, sweet potatoes may help with inflammation, blood sugar spikes, and blood pressure. You can get your filling of sweet potatoes in all kinds of dishes, from salty to sweet or a bit of both.

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.

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