Hearty Lentil Potato Soup (One-Pot Comfort) - My Home Made Recipe

Ingredients

• Green or brown lentils (2 cups).
• Extra virgin olive oil (1/4 cup plus more for drizzling).
• Garlic cloves, lightly crushed (4-6).
• Celery rib, finely diced (1).
• Yellow onion, finely diced (1).
• Fennel bulb, finely diced (1).
• Peperoncino or red pepper flakes.
• Thyme sprigs (3).
• Bay leaf (1).
• Sea salt (1 teaspoon).
• Yellow potato, cubed (1).
• Vegetable or chicken broth (4 cups).
• Water (4 cups).
• Bread cubes for croutons (2 cups, optional).