French Lentil Slow Cooker Stew

Ingredients

Sauté

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste

Slow cook

• 1 1/2 cups French green lentils (lentilles du Puy), rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper

After cooking

• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• Fresh parsley for serving
• Crusty bread

Instructions

1. Set pot to sauté. Heat olive oil and cook onion, carrots, and celery until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add garlic and tomato paste. Stir for 1 minute.
3. Add lentils, broth, diced tomatoes, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir.
4. Slow cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
5. Discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Stir in red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve with crusty bread, topped with parsley.