Mix the ground meat with a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of pepper, forming very small meatballs.

In a frying pan with a high edge or in a saucepan, prepare the sautéed vegetables with and cook the meatballs in the same pan, browning them well over a high heat for about ten minutes.

The crushed garlic should be added raw when the dish is cooked, but if this idea does not thrill you, you can add it to the sautéed vegetables.

Pour the tomato puree or pulp into the pot and let it simmer for 5 minutes, then add the water, 1 teaspoon of salt and continue cooking the meatballs in the sauce. After the water begins to boil, add lentils and laurel leaves, then cover the soup and let it cook over low heat for a good half hour.

Remove the pot from the heat, and check if the lentils are cooked. If necessary, you can add water and continue cooking them, but without exceeding cooking times, otherwise they will be overdone and mushy.