My friend tried to cheap out on her lentil soup with just water once. It was so flavorless we called it "lentil tea," lmao. She learned her lesson and now keeps bouillon cubes on hand.
Calling it "lentil tea" is a bit dramatic, isn't it? Sometimes a simple soup is just fine, especially if you're on a tight budget. Not every meal needs to be a flavor explosion. It might be bland, but calling it a sad mistake feels like overkill for just some boiled lentils.