– 2 cups of dry brown lentils – 3 tablespoons of olive oil – 1 large red onion, cut into chunk – 1 large carrot, diced – 2 potatoes, cut into cube – 1 diced red bell pepper – 2 crushed garlic clove – 4 sprigs of fresh thyme – 1 bay leaf – 1½ teaspoons of salt, (or more, to taste) – 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika – ½ teaspoon of curry powder – 4 cups vegetable broth – A handful of cilantro (or parsley), chopped – 1 teaspoon of freshly-cracked black pepper (or to taste)