Did you know just one half cup of lentils has 140 calories, a half gram of fat, 12 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber?!
Lentils are a superfood with calcium, iron, potassium and folate and when eaten with whole grains like rice, this combination becomes a complete protein.
A complete protein means that a food (or food pairing) includes all essential amino acids; amino acids produce proteins in the body that help break down food, repair body tissue and can be used as a source of energy among other various benefits.
Busy days call for nutrient dense meals like this Crockpot Lentil Stew! This “dump and go” recipe takes only 10 minutes of preparation and will keep you satiated for hours.
Serve this hearty lentil-carrot-onion stew over rice or with a side of whole grain naan and you’ve got a balanced plant-based lunch or dinner.
Get the slow cooker recipe below!
Ingredients (3 servings)
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 sweet onion (chopped)
- 1 tsp. garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 large carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 1 cup dry lentils (red or brown)
- 7.5 oz. tomato sauce
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp. celery seed
- 1/4 tsp. cumin
- 1/4 tsp. coriander
- 3/4 tsp. paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1/4 lemon (juice only)
Directions
- Add all the ingredients except for the lemon juice to a crockpot. Turn the crockpot to high and cook the stew for 7-8 hours until most of the broth has soaked up and lentils are soft.
- Remove the bay leaf when the stew is finished cooking. Then stir in the lemon juice. Serve hot with a side of rice or whole wheat naan.
If you are following the SBH Plant-Based 21-day Meal Plan, one serving of Crockpot Lentil Stew (without rice or naan) is approximately:
- 1 serving Veggies
- 1/2 serving Healthy Fats
- 1 1/2 servings Meat & Dairy Alternatives
Note: Strong.Bold.Healthy does not promote calorie counting. However, being that some may use calorie counting as a tool to help maintain a healthy weight, 1 serving of Crockpot Lentil Stew (without rice or naan) is approximately 203 calories. Nutritional information is a rough estimate.
