You don't want to miss this classic Italian Style Lentil recipe (New Year Tradition)! Italians eat lentils for New Year for good luck. Make this easy nutritious vegetarian recipe all year long!
If you want prosperity and good luck in the coming year- you must eat these lentils on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day! Serve with crusty bread, and enjoy.
Italian Soup Recipes
Fill up your soup bowls and prepare a meal the whole family will love.
More Italian soups you'll love: Italian Pastina Soup Recipe (with Chicken broth), Classic Italian Minestrone Soup, Blender Tomato Soup Recipe (Vitamix), Pasta e Ceci (Italian Pasta with Chickpea Soup),and BEST Bacon, Potato, and Kale Zuppa Toscana.
Classic Italian Style Lentils for New Year's Eve
It's a tradition to eat lentils for New Year's Eve. Although, we make this recipe all seasons of the year.
The little coin-shaped legumes bring good fortune in the form of money. They are served on the last day of the year to bring good luck for the upcoming year. They are sometimes served with cotechino, a boiled sausage typical in northern Italy.
We make it with and without the cotechino (sausage) in our home. This is a vegetarian version of the recipe without meat. You can always add the sausage on top if desired.
Serve with my No Knead Bread RECIPE or Fast Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread
Simple Ingredients for Italian Lentil Recipe
- Dried brown lentils
- Onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Olive oil
- Bay Leaf
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Salt
- Parsley (garnish)
How to Make Classic Italian-Style Lentils
Simple Italian Lentils Recipe starts with a "Soffritto."
This humble lentil dish starts with a soffritto- the Italian term for a mixture of chopped vegetables sautéed gently in oil. The mix of vegetables generally includes onions, carrots, and celery.
The word means “under fried.” This method creates a tasty base for any soup. The added benefit is adding extra veggies to the dish!
Trust me, friends, you will want to make this filling and satisfying lentil recipe. Once you do, it will be a recipe go-to!
Lentil Variety
Brown and green lentils are typically used to make this stew, as they are firm and retain their shape when cooking.
Red or yellow lentils are softer and cook faster. For this soup, they tend to fall apart and sort of dissolve into the soup. You can still use the orange variety, but it will change the consistency.
Italian Lentils Childhood Memory...
I remember in 7th grade when I went to my friend's house to spend my first New Year away from my family.
I brought my little box of lentils ready to eat to keep the tradition.
My friends made fun of me and asked what "in the heck" I was eating. I didn't let their mocking get in the way of eating my lentils.
I knew in my heart it was worth keeping the tradition; in the end, I would be blessed with good fortune :).
It never hurts to stick out like a sore thumb to keep your core values! You will never regret making the decision that makes your heart most happy.
Eat Lentils all Year for Good Health...
Lentils contain a lot of fiber and protein. They are delicious topped with eggs, eaten as a vegetarian ragu, served on top of crusty bread, served on top of a green salad, and more!
Don't let New Year be the only time you make these classic Italian lentils. Keep up the good luck all year!
Health Benefits of Lentils
Lentils are considered a superfood.
They are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber. Try adding them to your diet.
Another way I enjoy lentils is over a thick slice of hearty bread and a fried egg. You can make this a breakfast/ brunch item OR a tasty dinner!
Try this recipe Lentils Toast with Fried Egg Tasty lentil stew scooped over hearty bread and topped with a perfectly cooked egg are your brunch and dinner dreams! Simple, nutritious, and delicious. Don’t wait to make it.
How to Store Cooked Lentils
Lentils are a great make-ahead meal! After lentils are cooked: cover and refrigerate within two hours of cooking.
Dried lentils that have been cooked can be kept in the fridge for 5-7 days or frozen for up to 6 months.
Label with the date and store in an air-tight container made for freezing food. Having lentils in the freezer makes them easy to add to any meal.
The bay leaf and herbs add a savory flavor that makes this dish hearty and delicious!
From my Cucina (kitchen) to your table!
Made with Amore, Elena
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Print
Italian Lentils- New Years Classic
Italian Lentil Soup Recipe: Simply Delicious. This hearty Italian Lentil Recipe is not only easy to make but healthy and delicious as well. One bowl is never enough! It's also great served in other ways! See notes...
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (250 grams) dried brown lentils
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 1 sprig of thyme
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 5 cups water
- 1 pinch salt
- A handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped for serving
Instructions
- Place the onion, carrot, and celery in a large saucepan or soup pot with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté gently on low heat until the vegetables are very soft and the onion is somewhat translucent, but not colored. Add the bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, tomato paste, dry lentils, and 5 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and cook until the lentils are tender but retain their shape (this can take as little as 20 minutes to upwards of 35 minutes, depending on the lentils. I know that seems like a big time difference but all dried beans cook a little differently).
- Keep checking them and add more water if necessary. Add salt to taste only once the lentils are tender, otherwise, they will remain tough. Stir through the chopped parsley and serve as you like (see notes for ideas).
Notes
Lentils are delicious topped with eggs, eaten as a vegetarian ragu, served on top of crusty bread, served on top of a green salad and more! Don't let New Years be the only time you make these classic Italian lentils. Keep up the good luck all year around!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: lentils, classic lentil recipe, lentil soup, Italian lentils
Jill Barbour says
Growing up in an Italian family myself, lentils are always a must on New Years! These came out perfect.
★★★★★
Elena says
Yes, we also enjoy them all year-around.
G says
Thank you for this amazing recipe! My family and I loved it! I added some chicken broth in addition to the water and some pancetta too but it was so tasty that it wasn’t even necessary! Grazie mille!
★★★★★
Elena says
Prego! I'm happy you loved it. Here is to good luck this year.
Nicole says
I made this with cotechino and mashed potatoes for the holidays and the lentils were wonderful! Easy recipe to follow, will certainly make again.
★★★★★
Elena says
Happy you loved it! Yes, it is a great recipe to make often. Enjoy.
Chuck Kimberl says
I really like the recipe but I also like your beliefs and stick-with-it attitude you had in the 7th grade. I am sure it guides you to this day.
Elena says
Yes, it does :). Thanks, Chuck.
Robin says
I saw this post and it inspired me to make the recipe for New Year's Eve! I've made many lentil soup recipes, but hands down this was the best!
I also added a parm rind...I actually add them to almost everything and think I need parm rind anonymous!
★★★★★
Elena says
I'm thrilled you loved the recipe. We enjoy it all year ;). Happy New Year, Robin!
Kathy-Brie Ramirez says
So good, thank you!
★★★★★
Elena says
My pleasure! Enjoy all year.
JD says
Tasty, healthy, and easy to make!
★★★★★
Lauren says
My husband won’t eat vegetarian so I added bacon to this and it was awesome. Served it over bread with an egg like Elena posted and it was a complete meal and so simple to make!
★★★★★
Elena says
Happy he loved it! We often add pancetta in Italy too! Enjoy.
Christina says
These were delicious! Very easy to make and full of flavor. I will definitely make them again! And I love hearing about your traditions 🇮🇹❤️
★★★★★
Elena says
Thank you Christina!
I am so happy you enjoyed them!
Elena
Donna Lundy says
So good! A big hit with my family too ☺
★★★★★
Elena says
I am so happy Donna! I hope you can make it again!
Elena
Elena says
So happy everyone loved it!
Mary says
I love lentils. I make a version of this with a sweet potato cut into small chunks for sweetness and veg. or chicken broth instead of water. Everything else the same as this. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over top when served …Yummy
Elena says
Happy you loved it! Happy New Year!
Elena says
I love that!