Saute the onions and garlic in the maple syrup, adding water as needed to avoid sticking
Add carrots and celery, continue sautéing until soft
Once done, transfer to pot
Add the spices - cumin, curry powder, and bay leaves...thoroughly mix into the veggies
Add lentils, potatoes, and water - let cook for 20 minutes (or until lentils are done)
Notes
For a super quick and easy way to cook this - put it in the instant pot for 15 minutes!While this soup tends to thicken, you can always add more water to get the consistency that you desire.