Savory Sage Mushroom Lentil Stew

Share this recipe!

This savory sage mushroom lentil stew is filled with cozy, hearty, and flavorful ingredients that will warm your soul during the colder months. Savory sage, mushrooms, and hearty lentils marry together for the best cold weather stew that you will want to make all winter long.


  • Easy – This lentil mushroom stew is an easy recipe all made in one pot! I love to make this during the weeknight for an easy dinner that makes for great leftovers.
  • Flavorful – The mushrooms add the perfect umami flavor while the fresh sage adds a warm and earthy aroma.
  • Healthy– This recipe is packed with lots of nutritional value and is high in Vitamin C!
  • Vegan, dairy-free, & potentially gluten-free (easy swap with the flour)

As the temps start to drop outside, the only thing I’m craving is one of those hearty meals that warms my whole body from the inside out. This time of year I am making tons of soup and stew.

This vegan mushroom lentil stew is the perfect meal for the winter months. I store leftovers in the freezer and reheat whenever I need a quick meal that week.

Looking for more cozy meals this season? Try out…

👉🏻Craving more? Check out this list of 75 meatless meals for the week!

🍄Ingredients

Ingredient notes:

  • Lentils: I use french green lentils in this recipe but you could also use brown lentils. I don’t recommend red because they cook too fast and their color doesn’t match this soup. Lentils are a great source of fiber…making this a filling and hearty soup!
  • Mushrooms: You technically only need one type of mushroom for this recipe. Cremini mushrooms are inexpensive and provide great flavor, but you could consider adding a different variety of mushroom such as shiitake mushroom. Just make sure they add up to 1 pound for this recipe. Mushrooms will add the deep flavor to this stew. (Love mushrooms? Check out this creamy Mushroom Rigatoni!)
  • Fresh garlic: I recommend freshly minced garlic for this recipe for the best flavor. If you don’t have fresh, you can use garlic powder.
  • White wine: Not a requirement, but can add a lot of flavor to soup. I use a drier wine like sauvignon blanc. Avoid sweet wines like moscato for soup.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

📝Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: In a large pot or large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until softened, ~ 4 minutes.

Step 2: Add the sliced cremini mushrooms to the pot. Stir occasionally. Cook until the mushrooms release their moisture and start to brown, ~5 minutes.

Step 3: Add in the diced carrots, potatoes and rinsed lentils. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and lentils, and stir to coat.

Step 4: Gradually pour in the vegetable broth, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. If using wine, add it now. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir in the chopped sage, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

Step 5: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the stew simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until the lentils and vegetables are tender.

Stir in chopped kale and soy sauce. Let it simmer for 1-2 more minutes until kale is wilted and then its ready to serve.

Serve the Sage and Mushroom Stew hot, garnished with extra fresh sage, with some freshly toasted bread

Tip: Squeeze some lemon on top for some acidity that balances the earthy flavors of the stew.

❓Recipe FAQs

Why do I have to rinse lentils?


Rinsing lentils before cooking removes impurities, excess surface starch, and minimizes oligosaccharides, contributing to a cleaner, better-tasting, and more easily digestible final dish.

What is the purpose of adding flour to this recipe?


Adding flour to this mushroom lentil soup serves to thicken the broth, creating a smoother and heartier texture by forming a roux that binds the liquid components.

What is a “sprig of sage”?


A “sprig of sage” is a small stem or branch of the sage herb, typically including several leaves. The number of leaves on a sprig of sage can vary, but it typically ranges from 3 to 8 leaves, depending on the size of the sprig. I recommend using a sprig with at least 4 leaves for this stew.


Pro Tips


  • I highly recommend using fresh sage for this recipe to get the best flavor. It really takes this stew so the next level!
  • To keep this recipe simpler, I use just one variation of mushroom, but feel free to use a mix of mushroom varieties, such as cremini, shiitake, and porcini, to add complexity and depth to the stew.
  • Consider adding a squeeze of lemon juice towards the end of cooking. This touch of acidity can brighten the flavors of the stew, balance the richness of the mushrooms and lentils.

⇨ Other Delicious Recipes ⇦

♡ Did you love this recipe? ♡

Leave a ⭐️rating and ✏️comment below (I love to read them!) Tag us on Instagram with a photo or video of your dish 📸 @naturallieplantbased.

Subscribe for more delicious recipes!

Subscribe for Free Recipes!

Get new recipe ideas from Naturallie Plant-Based straight to your inbox.

Savory Sage Mushroom Lentil Stew

Allie Petersen
Savory sage mushroom lentil stew is a hearty, cozy dinner, with bold flavors of savory mushrooms and lentils that are complemented by the aromatic essence of sage, creating a comforting and flavorful dish that's great for the chilly months.
5 from 44 votes

Save This Recipe

Want to get this recipe in your email? Just enter your email below and get it now along with new recipe updates!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced (450g)
  • 2 large carrots peeled and diced
  • 1 cup yellow or white potatoes diced
  • 1 cup cup dry green or brown lentils rinsed
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup dry white wine optional – use 1 cup water instead
  • 2 sprigs fresh sage finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)* see note
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 heaping cup chopped kale ribs/stems removed
  • 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot or large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until softened, ~ 4 minutes.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large onion, 3 cloves garlic
  • Add the sliced cremini mushrooms to the pot. Stir occasionally. Cook until the mushrooms release their moisture and start to brown, ~5 minutes.
    1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • Add in the diced carrots, potatoes and rinsed lentils. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and lentils, and stir to coat. Gradually pour in the vegetable broth, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. If using wine, add it now. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
    2 large carrots, 1 cup yellow or white potatoes, 1 cup cup dry green or brown lentils, 1 tbsp all purpose flour, 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, 1 cup dry white wine
  • Stir in the chopped sage, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
    2 sprigs fresh sage, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the stew simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until the lentils and vegetables are tender.
  • Stir in chopped kale and soy sauce. Let it simmer for 1-2 more minutes and then its ready to serve.
    1 heaping cup chopped kale, 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
  • Optional: Squeeze some lemon on top. Serve the Sage and Mushroom Stew hot, garnished with extra fresh sage, with some freshly toasted bread.

Notes

⭐️What’s a “sprig of sage”? This is a small stem or branch of the sage herb, typically including several leaves. The number of leaves on a sprig of sage can vary, but it typically ranges from 3 to 8 leaves, depending on the size of the sprig. I recommend using a sprig with at least 4 leaves for this stew. 
Other tips: 
  • If you don’t have wine, you can substitute with just 1 cup of water. Your soup will still have great flavor!
  • I choose to use low-sodium vegetable broth to make the soup a tad healthier. If you only have regular vegetable broth, consider omitting the 1/2 tsp of salt and only adding salt to taste. 
  • To keep this recipe simpler, I use just one variation of mushroom, but feel free to use a mix of mushroom varieties, such as cremini, shiitake, and porcini, to add complexity and depth to the stew.
Tried this recipe?Comment below & tag @naturallieplantbased on Instagram!

One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    It’s so hard to find a meal that’s both healthy AND comforting, so I’m so glad I found your recipe! It turned out so good and even the picky eaters liked it.

5 from 44 votes (43 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating