Lentil Stew with Quinoa and Mushrooms

Name: Lentil Stew with Quinoa and Mushrooms
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 3 celery ribs, sliced into ⅓-inch pieces; 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into ⅓-inch rounds; 8 ounces cremini and/or shiitake mushrooms, sliced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 to 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 1 teaspoon sea salt; ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus more for serving; 8 cups vegetable stock; 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes; 1 cup black or green lentils; ¾ cup quinoa; Balsamic vinegar; Grated Parmesan cheese; Chopped fresh parsley; Crusty bread

Seasoned with fresh thyme and studded with earthy mushrooms, French green lentils—the “caviar” of lentils—lend a toothsome bite to this protein-rich, vegan lentil stew with quinoa.

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lentil stew with quinoa and mushrooms in a ceramic bowl with crusty buttered bread.

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A Darn Good Vegan Lentil Stew For Everyone

This lentil stew with quinoa and mushrooms is a variation of a dish you will find in nearly every French home. Our recipe calls for black or green lentils, and the French lentilles du Puy (which have a distinctive peppery essence, thanks to where they are grown), would also work in this recipe. Whichever of these varieties you choose, you’re sure to get the earthy toothsome quality we’re looking for to give body to this stew. In addition to this deliciously vegetable-laden, hearty French lentil stew, you’re also going to get an entire days’ worth of protein, veggies and fiber. Grab a bowl, a crusty baguette, and a Simple Green Salad on the side for a fabulous French-inspired meal.

carrots, vegetable broth, onions, garlic, celery, dried lentils, quinoa, mushrooms in small bowls for homemade lentil stew

Lentil Stew's, Good For You Ingredients

The question isn’t “is lentil soup good for you?” because that’s a gimme. The question is “can a soup possibly be this healthy and taste this good?” The answer is a resounding yes! By pairing quinoa with protein-packed green lentils—which are themselves a good source of iron, potassium and phosphorus—in this French lentil stew recipe, we've created a nutritional powerhouse for vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike! Rich in fiber, minerals, folate and thiamine (B1), quinoa is a gluten-free grain that also qualifies as a so-called "complete protein," meaning that it has all nine essential amino acids that the human body needs and cannot make on its own. In other words, quinoa is an excellent food to include in a vegan or vegetarian diet. A single bowl of this vegan lentil stew serves up a borderline ridiculous level of nutrition for everybody. In other words, whether you’re trying out meat free or less meat, you’re going to love this stew.

large soup pot with olive oil, carrots, onions and celery

large soup pot with vegetable broth, cooked vegetables with french lentils being poured into the pot.

large soup pot with vegetable broth, uncooked quinoa, uncooked french lentils and sliced mushrooms.

large soup pot with lentil stew with quinoa and mushrooms

How to Make Quinoa Lentil Stew

This lentil stew recipe packs as much plant-based protein as possible into a bowl of simple-to-make (and, of course, good-to-eat!) soup. We wanted to cook up a big pot of easy lentil soup—something that ticked all of the health and nutrition boxes that we aim for—and have it on hand for lunches and last-minute dinners all week long. We started with a classic lentil soup recipe, and added a few flavor-boosting herbs and textural ingredients to make it just a little more crowd-pleasing. Here’s how to make our healthy, vegan lentil stew:

Begin by cooking the onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms and herbs slowly in olive oil for at least 20 minutes. You’re going to want to hurry this along, but resist the urge! Everything will cook together in the oil, softening and browning slightly, laying a foundation of flavor for your lentil stew. It’ll be worth the wait.
Boil! Pour in the tomatoes, eight cups of vegetable broth (don’t worry, the lentils absorb a lot of liquid as they cook) and lentils, give it a good stir, and bring the pot to a rolling boil. Simmer for a while for maximum flavor building magic.
Add the quinoa, and simmer some more to cook your grains.
Serve! We like to finish it with a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar (or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice), which is a classic French way of serving lentils and adds a surprising amount of complexity to this already-delectable soup. You can read more about vinegar in our comprehensive Pantry Essentials: Guide to Vinegars.

large pot of french lentil stew with quinoa and mushrooms

Tools You’ll Need:

More Easy, Healthy Soup Recipes:

Soup season is ON, and here’s a handful of soups to warm the soul:

Loving that shroomy-paprika goodness? Try this Hungarian Mushroom Soup. Or for straight up shrooms, Cream of Mushroom Soup and Mushroom Stew are what you want!
Rich and delicious Garlic Soup or Creamy Potato Soup
More lentil soups: Red Lentil Soup (with cumin and turmeric!) or Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
Because we love a short shopping list: 5-Ingredient Chicken Meatball Soup with Kale & Parmesan or good old Tomato Soup
More veggie goodness: Vegetable Curry Soup
Just cooking quinoa? Check out our notes about making Perfect Quinoa every time.

bowl of lentil stew with quinoa and mushrooms with a side of crusty buttered bread

Lentil Stew, One More Thing To Love About French Cuisine

May the quinoa lentil soup be with you! Snap a photo of your lentil stew with quinoa and mushrooms, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can celebrate your kitchen victories! Bon appétit!