Heart-Healthy Lentil Soup
This lentil soup is a staple for cardiac recovery. It’s packed with fiber to help lower cholesterol, rich in potassium-heavy vegetables, and perfectly spiced to keep sodium low without sacrificing flavor.
Quick Recipe Overview:
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 35 min
Servings 6
Sodium per Serving 275 mg
Why Your Heart Will Love This: This heart-healthy lentil soup is a DASH-compliant, low-sodium recipe ideal for cardiovascular health. It uses brown or green lentils, low-sodium vegetable broth, and anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric and cumin. With only 275mg of sodium per serving, it's a freezer-friendly meal prep option that supports heart recovery.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil (0mg)
1 large onion, diced (5mg)
3 garlic cloves, minced (2mg)
2 medium carrots, diced (70mg)
2 celery stalks, diced (64mg)
1 bell pepper, diced (2mg)
1½ cups dried green or brown lentils, rinsed (26mg)
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (840mg)
1 tsp cumin (4mg)
1 tsp paprika (1mg)
½ tsp turmeric (1mg)
½ tsp black pepper (0mg)
¼ tsp salt (590mg) (Used strategically for flavor!)
2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped (48mg)
Lemon wedges for serving (0mg)
Instructions
Sauté the Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
Add Aromatics: Stir in the garlic, bell pepper, and your spices (cumin, paprika, turmeric, black pepper). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Simmer: Add the lentils, broth, and salt. Bring everything to a boil.
Cook Lentils: Reduce the heat, cover, and gently simmer for 25-30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
Finish with Greens: Stir in the spinach or kale. Cook until wilted, which takes about 2 minutes.
Serve: Serve hot with a squeeze of fresh lemon wedge for an extra boost of salt-free flavor!
Storage Tip: Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months for easy emergency meals.
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