Cooking Steps:
Begin by rinsing the lentils thoroughly under cold water. This not only cleans them but also helps in even cooking.
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium flame.
Toss in the chopped red onion and minced garlic. Saute until the onion becomes translucent, typically around 3-4 minutes.
Add the diced carrots and chopped celery. Stir well and let them soften for about 5 minutes.
Pour in the diced tomatoes, along with their juice.
Add in the lentils, vegetable broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir everything well.
Cover the pot and let the stew simmer on low heat for 35 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
Towards the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the fresh spinach and stir until wilted.
Once done, turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
Serve hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley.