1 Million Dollar Vegetable Stew

I just had to comment today on the cute picture of you! I love the dress you’re in. 🙂 ….the stew looks delicious too…I love lentils! I feel the best when I’m eating soups and salads, since I can cram a ton of veggies into either. 🙂

I feel healthy drinking green smoothies! They make it easier for me to get in those nutrient dense foods on a daily basis ! We got a vitamix for Christmas and have enjoyed adding kale and other greens. Cheers!

I just attempted to stick my fork into my monitor. This looks soooo good!

I LOVE lentils. And every time I eat them, I wonder why I don’t cook with them more often. This recipe is definitely up my alley- it sounds incredible! And, I have pretty much all of the ingredients on hand!
Happy New Year to you, Katie 🙂

This looks so yummy! I’ve been trying to use lentils more since I don’t eat enough protein most days, but a lot of the lentil soup/stew recipes have been ho-hum as far as flavor goes. I’ll bet the vinegar and lemon zest really brighten this up (in addition to using more than just carrots, celery, and onions like I have been)! And even though I’m not always thrilled with the flavor, I do feel healthy after eating lentil stew because just a small portion leaves me satisfied and ready to take on the afternoon without weighing me down!

I purée the veggies before cooking them with the lentils so that my kids will eat them – and they really do that way. I feel good when I eat ratatouille and quinoa together – so light and full of energy.

this look great ! i love yours and your sisters dresses there adorable !! eating healthy fresh makes me just feel great !

Oh, one question: How many people can eat from that recipe? =)

That looks divine! Do you have any ideas for replacement veggies for those who don’t like mushrooms? The boyfriend hates them! Peas, maybe?

First, I love your dress! 🙂

I feel healthy with lots of fresh veggies (like spinach and kale) and legumes, especially lentils. Plus, after a powerful workout. =D

And I am definitely making this recipe–as soon as I get the mushrooms.

I was hoping you’d post this recipe. Thanks.

A lot fresh fruit and veggies make me feel balanced, whether they be in a smoothie, salad, soup or just as is.

Cannot wait to finish up what’s already in the fridge so I can make this! Sounds wondrous!

This looks fantastic! Can’t wait to try it!

As far as my favorite “feel healthy” dishes, I also love miso soup! My concoction is somewhat similar to your recipe, and I also add carrots and leeks, a tradition that started when I was feeling sick and just grabbed vegetables that looked like they’d made a nice big pot of magic soup (lol). If I’m lazy and/or don’t feel like buying an actual tub of miso, I just add a couple of miso soup mix packets to the vegetable broth (shhh, don’t tell!). If I’m feeling really under the weather, I’ll eat a bunch of the soup and down carrot orange apple juice like it’s my job … my it’s just psychosomatic, but most of the time if I feel a cold or something coming on, if I eat/drink these two things and then head to bed, I wake up feeling all better again!

I also always feel fantastic when I start the day with green juice — my favorite combo is romaine, kale, celery, lemon, green apple & ginger. YUM!

Ok, I know this somewhat unrelated but, the other day, my aunt brought over these cookie dough brownies and they were DELISH! And I plan on making a GF version…but I was wondering if that would be a good inspiration for your next blog post 😉

Just verifying, that 5 oz box of spinach is frozen spinach. Do you thaw and squeeze out the water or is it supposed to be fresh spinach?

I feel the healthiest when I eat smaller portions of healthy food and when I have a really good workout 🙂

Like you, I love a bowl of veggies. This time of year I love them in a soup. Not being vegetarian, I love a homemade chicken broth. Love your photo!

I love your dress. Where is it from? You look beautiful!

Gorgeous pictures and gorgeous ladies!! 🙂

always feel super healthy after eating a salad or a wrap! 🙂

Love lentils and barley. Make big pans of the stuff and it is great for freezing. Do a lot of training so thats the food to eat. This recipe looks fabulous I will try it out next week.

Hi Katie,

This stew looks really good. Thank you for adding the crockpot option, because I don’t use mine enough and it’s sort of a new year’s resolution for me to use it more!

I also love your dress in that photo and would love to know where you purchased it.

Thanks, and thanks for your awesome blog!

Sometimes I get scared when I see a recipe like this and I have all of the ingredients in my house (do I shop too much??) but then I get excited, because I can make this asap! Thanks!! 🙂

Your blog site is really awesome, perfect for my clients. I was looking and on a hunt task for recipes that I think are smart, healthy, and fun. Finding your blog is just in time for my aim to provide healthy, fun and exciting way to get fit. I will keep on sharing your info here! Health is always on my mind and I came across your recipe and this is really remarkable. Thank you so much!

Your recipes are A M A Z I N G! And your blog is my inspiration. I’ve opened a blog too and I’m working on it. I would invite anyone to visit it.

Katie, you and your sister look gorgeous! Thank you both for sharing.

I made a lentil soup in a crockpot last month…but it was nothing like this! Must try….

I feel most healthy when I eat a dark green salad (usually spinach) with a protein like chicken and other mix-ins such as nuts, raw sunflower seeds, flax seeds, carrot matchsticks, diced fruits, etc. with a low sugar dressing. After all, more raw variety = more nutrition, right?

I call these type of meals “kitchen sink soups” because really you can just add anything! Looks yummy!

I got a juicer for Christmas and cannot believe how great I feel after a fresh juice! It’s like a bolt of energy and health!!

You guys both look amazing!!

As does this stew. Lol. I was wondering, as I’m the only one in my family who doesn’t eat red meat, and they have red meat a lot, does this freeze well? My mother is always nagging at me that I’m not going to get enough protein.

This looks sooo good!!
The food that makes me feel healthiest and energetic when I eat it is probably either veggie burger (made with soy, I buy the prepackaged ones and have never tried making them :/) or pinto beans! I feel like I can run a marathon when I eat foods like this! 😀

LOVE that dress! The colors are beautiful and you guys look great! Happy new year to you!

Made this for supper and I’m eating it right now — sooo good!!

I’m studying abroad and having to cook for myself for the first time. I made this stew tonight and even though I was winging the measurements because my kitchen is understocked, it turned out wonderfully! And I love that it makes so much because now I will have meals ready for nights to come.

Excellent. Does one really have to cook the vegetables before the crockpot?? I get the onions but the rest? Can’t wait to try.

This recipe is SO delicious! I halved it (made it for myself) and since I can’t stand mushrooms I replaced them with extra carrots and bell peppers. I was so nervous to add the lemon peel as I thought it’d taste lemony – but it turned out so well and not lemony at all 🙂

I’ll definitely make this again, it’s such an awesome way to get veggies and protein!! thanks Katie!

And in answer to your question, I always feel healthy when I eat veggies raw or cooked in mass amounts (ie in recipes like this), drink homemade smoothies, eat oatmeal….basically everything in my diet, actually. I avoid GMOs, am Celiac so can’t eat gluten, am vegetarian, and basically that leaves unrefined grains & fruits & veggies…and Endangered Species dark chocolate of course. yum yum!! 😀

This is simmering on my stove right now. It smells lovely! Both kids like the smell (2 yr and 8 yr) but we will see how they eat it. 🙂 One is picky and the other doesn’t like mushrooms.
Thanks for the great recipe!

I guess I’m in the minority, but I did find the recommended amount of lemon zest overwhelming. It seemed like too much to me but I went ahead and added it all. I would recommend adding a little at a time and tasting as you go, or letting each diner add it his or herself. My husband definitely noticed the lemon but still liked it, while I thought the dish tasted like I added soap! Adding soy sauce helps, but I can tell it would have been delicious with less lemon so I will definitely make it again.

Just wanted so stop by and say how much I loved this recipe! I made it a few weeks ago for my non-vegan (but supportive) parents and they loved it! There’s just three of us so we had some awesome leftovers for the week. I replaced the mushrooms with some different veggies and the whole thing turned out perfectly. Thanks Katie, I love your dinner recipes!

I made this tonight and it was super good! I didn’t have fennel seeds so I used dill weed instead. Still great! Next time I’ll make sure I make it way in advance because I didn’t end up eating it until 8:00 by the time the lentils were soft. 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!

Hi Katie!
I previously typed up a very long comment but I do not think that it posted. I’ll summarize it instead. So, I am a 14 year old girl who has been reading your blog for 2 years now. Your blog was one of the first outside resources that helped me begin a healthier lifestyle. I appreciate the effort you put into all your recipes and the kindness you show to all of your readers, and I can’t thank you enough for all of the variety of recipe ideas you have given me. My absolute favorite recipe on this website is this one, and my entire carnivorous family approves as well! Thank you so much for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Brooke

Just bought all the ingredients for the stew tonight. Will be making it this weekend. Thanks!!!

I would love to make it, but it would be to costly to go out and try to get all the ingredients. People would eat healthier if recipe makers would keep in mind that not everyone can spend $50 bucks to make one dish. That’s how much the ingredients I didn’t have were going to cost when I went shopping for what I didn’t have at home.

Hi Katie! You are a wonderful cook, though you obviously alreasy know that!
Just did this and it is delicious! I squeezed some extra lemon on top just because I love lemon! Way to go, Katie!!

Thanks Katie,
This was so delicious! It was the perfect dinner for a day when the fam had some time to spend together chatting and chopping veggies so it was doubly wonderful. We followed it up with a homemade apple blueberry crumb pie. Lots of veggies and fruits today!
Happy New Year!

I subbed some cabbage for the celery, used red lentils and felt skeptical about putting the box of mixed greens (chard, kale and spinach) in the pot. It’s so thick!!
I put it in anyway and kept my fingers crossed. Don’t have lemon zest, used lemon juice (fingers crossed again).

It turned out really good. My kids even ate it!

Delicious and so healthy, this goes in my favorite recipes! I subbed cabbage and summer squash for the mushrooms, lemon pepper for the zest, homemade unsalted broth and did not add the salt. I am not a big fan of fennel, so started with 1/2 of the amount and then added the other half and it tasted even better. I also like it served cold, it is quite refreshing on a hot day. Thanks for posting!

Hi! I loved this recipe. Used green French lentils. Did have to make some changes though as my husband will not eat mushrooms…substituted them for 1 can of drained chickpeas and 1 can of drained kidney beans. Also added a whole block of chopped tempeh for additional protein. All else the same. Loved it and it will definitely go in our rotation. Thanks for the recipe!!

Hi Katie,

You used to have a different lentil stew on your webpage. The one without bell pepper, cumin, or lemon zest. Years ago I would make it quite frequently and was hoping to find that recipe again, but I can’t! I was wondering if you could possibly send it to me? Please?