Donβt settle for bland Lentil Soup!Β Make it right and youβll have everyone begging for secondsβ¦.and thirdsβ¦ This lentil recipe is one of the best nourishing, simple dishes you can make with dried lentils thatβs 100% delicious. Use green lentils, red lentils, brown lentils or a lentil soup mix.
All it takes is a hint of spice flavourings, bay leaves and finishing it off with a touch of lemon to elevate this soup. Itβs an easy recipe that delivers terrific results, a 5 star reader favourite with hundreds of feedback from readers!
Want to addΒ some protein? Try this Beef & Lentil Soup!
Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is quite possibly the least sexy sounding soup on the planet.
At least, in my world. Regular readers know that Iβm all about big flavours. Spicy, herby, curries β kapow, kapow, kapow!
But you know what? A well made Lentil Soup recipe is canβt-stop-eating-it good. Youβll go back for seconds and thirds, then youβll be taking big tubs of it to work for lunch and happily have it for dinner again.
And β Iβm going to say it (*head swell*) β plenty of readers have said this is theΒ best lentil soup theyβve ever had!
A well made Lentil Soup recipe is canβt-stop-eating-it good.
Is lentil soup good for you?
If youβre wondering if lentil soup is good for you, the answer isΒ yes!Β Lentils areΒ nutritious, rich in minerals, protein, low in fat, high in fibre (digestive health). They are a terrific vegetarianΒ source of proteinΒ with 25% of the calories in lentils attributable to protein.
Lentils are a carbohydrate, but itβs slow burning which means it keeps you fuller for longer.Β Studies also suggest that lentils are good for heart health.
The added benefit is thatΒ they are low in calories with 116 calories in 1 cup of cooked lentils (which is roughly the amount per serving of this lentil soup).
What does lentil soup taste like?
It tastes savoury and has a flavour boost from a hint of spices. Thereβs an undertone of natural sweetness from the soffritoΒ flavour base of onion, carrot and celery. My favourite part is the texture! Itβs thick and comforting, and just made for dunking in hot crusty bread!
What goes in Lentil Soup
Hereβs what goes in my lentil soup. Nothing fancy, just everyday ingredients.
So what makes this Lentil Soup so good?
A touch of spices.
Cooking the onion, carrot and celery slowly so they sweeten and make a beautiful flavour base.
Lemon βΒ The βsecretβ ingredient.Β Yes really. Little tip I picked up from Ina Garten. Just a bit of zest and squeeze of fresh lemon makes all the difference which takes it from really good to great!
Do you cook lentils before adding to soup?
Nope! Dried lentils cook in 35 minutesΒ in the soup, and thereβs no need to soak them either!
What type of lentils are best for lentil soup?
Dried lentils are best for lentil soup. You can use most types of lentils for this recipe β brown, green, red or yellow, though it will affectΒ the colour of the soup. Iβve used green lentils, pictured below.
The only type of lentil I do not recommend isΒ Puy Lentils (little black French lentils) because they hold their shape and donβt soften like other lentils.
Can you used canned cooked lentils?
Yes you sure can, and directions are provided in the recipe notes. But itβs better made with dried lentils because of the texture in the soup, thereβs only 10 minutes difference in cook time and itβs more economical!
How to make Lentil Soup from scratch
SautΓ© your onion, garlic, carrots and celery overΒ over low heat for almost 10 minutes. Take your time here βΒ the lower the heat, the longer you take, the more these will transform to create an incredible flavour base for the soup!
Add everything else other than the lemon;
Simmer 35 minutes until lentils are soft; and
Finish with a dusting of zest and spritz of lemon.
A hint of lemon earthiness from the zest and touch of freshness from the juice just jazzes up the soup and takes it to that next level!
Youβll find that the lentils mostly breakdown and naturally thicken the soup. But what I like to do to get a really luscious creamy texture is to give the soup aΒ quick whizz with a blender stick (or transfer a couple of cups to the blender) to puree SOME but not all the lentils.
That way you get the benefit of both worlds β creamy soup with soft bits of lentils. YES!
How to store lentil soup
Lentil Soup will easily keep for 5 days in the fridge, making it ideal for cooking on the weekend and serving throughout the week. And it also freezes 100% perfectly for 3 months β even longer!
Every time I make this, I always wonder why I donβt make it more often. Itβs healthy, filling, super economical, freezes perfectly, versatile and itβsΒ seriously good.
Serving this with some sort of warm crusty bread for dunking is not optional.Β ItβsΒ an essential part of the Lentil Soup experience.
But itΒ is optional whether you slather said bread with butter, or grill it with cheese! Β Here are a few options β including making your ownΒ ultra easy homemade bread with NO YEAST:
β Nagi xx
Watch How To Make It
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Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped (white, brown, yellow)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large carrot , chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
- 2 celery ribs , chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
- 2 cups / 400g dried lentils , green or brown, rinsed (Note 1)
- 400g / 14 oz crushed tomato
- 1.5 litres / 1.5 quarts (6 cups) vegetable or chicken stock / broth, low sodium
- 1/2 tsp each cumin and coriander powder
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika powder
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 lemon (zest + juice)
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper, each
To Serve
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Warm bread, to serve
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 minutes.
- Add celery and carrot. Cook for 7 β 10 minutes or until softened and the onion is sweet. Donβt rush this step, it is key to the flavour base of the soup.
- Add all remaining ingredients except the lemon and salt. Stir.Β
- Increase heat and bring to simmer. Scoop scum on the surface off and discard (do this again during cooking if required). Place lid on and turn heat down to medium low. Simmer for 35 β 40 minutes or until lentils are soft.
- Remove bay leaves.
- Thicken Soup: Using a stick blender, do 2 or 3 quick whizzes to thicken the soup (see video below). Or transfer 2 cups to a blender, let it cool slightly, then hold lid with tea towel and blend then transfer back into pot.
- Add a touch of water if you want to adjust soup consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Grate over the zest of the lemon then add a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve with warm crusty bread slathered liberally with butter!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Recipe originally published March 2017, spruced up with new pics, new video and fresh new writing. Absolutely no change to recipe β itβs been a firm reader favourite from day 1, so IΒ wouldnβt dare touch it!
More totally delicious lentil recipes:
Sexy Lentil Salad β try it, then youβll get the nameβ¦.
Dal β Indian lentil curry. The highest and best use of lentils, full stop!
Coconut Lentil Curry β outrageously addictive, andΒ easyΒ (I make this for a curry fix when I donβt have time for dal)
Mejadra (Middle Eastern Spiced Lentil Rice) β so good you can eat it plain, seriously!
Browse all Beans and Lentil recipes
Life of Dozer
He contributes less than nothing to this household, he actually contributesΒ negative.Β Dropping fur everywhere, shaking vigorously so it flies everywhere along with an inordinate amountΒ of sand, constantly sprawling out in my path so Iβm forced to step over him (remember, Iβm vertically challenged = giant steps).
Giant π© all over the backyard. Barks furiously at tree branches swaying in the breeze but I swear, he would happily show a robber where my jewellery box is in exchange for a pat.
Useless!!! (And yet we love them so much, donβt we? π)
PS Another example of his uselessness β he spends 22 hours a day doing this. The other 2 hours are spent a) eating b) hoping to eat c) playing.
Delicious with a buttered slice of sourdough pumpkin bread!
Maybe before you post your recipes you should spell check them. As you have some misspelled words.
colour corect spelling color
flavour correct spelling flavor
and there is no s at the end of the abbreviation of minutes it is just min.
Iβm pretty sure this comment is a piss-take, but bloody hell if you posted that comment on a British forum youβd probably start a war
Fantastic recipe, so flavourful and so easy to make. I didnβt know lentil soup could be so delicious. It also freezes perfectly. I made a big batch just to keep it in the freezer for future.
This was the first recipetin recipe that we did not enjoy. It didnβt have great flavor, bland, needs meat or something. We made it with a side of cheesy naan bread and that helped. But for me it was a thumbs down
This was so lovely and comforting, best lentil soup Iβve ever had π
Just made this and it is AMAZING. Made exactly as written (but made it in my crockpot that has a saute function) Simmered on low for 45 minutes and just kept simmering for an afternoon of comfort smells and tastes. Had to add a bit more water but it thickened beautifully in this slow cooking method and raves from all. Thank you!
This stuff is delicious! I waited to add both the lemon and tomato (bad experience in the past where tomato stopped my lentils from fully cooking. Iβm kind of a space cadet and accidentally added twice the amount of tomato which I have to say, it tasted better before the tomato. Lol. My fault. Will still eat my pasta sauce, I mean lentil soup. Lol
such an amazing cook love your recipes xx
Hi Nagi,
I made this Lentil Soup tonight and it really is βseriously amazingβ! I did not even have to thicken it, as it became thick enough as it cooked for the 40 minutes through. Excellent flavour and so, so simple to make. My husband liked it too β win, win! Thank you so much!
Agree completely β Just made it and had the same experience with it thickening on its own. Delicious!
I made this. Great tasting. Quick. Like your mother I am thrifty. Canβt stand to waste food so added left over meat, fresh tomatoes and potatoes. I used two garlic pods, whole, and half of an onion, whole, due to one family member unable to digest them, so they can be lifted out, but the flavor is left behind. Thanks for clear directions.
First time to try making this myself after trying out in a local restaurant, and I loved this! Thanks Nagi, am an avid fan of your cooking and recipes!
I loved it! Delicious! The only adjustment I made was to remove the crushed tomatoes. (One member of the household is sensitive to acidic foods) I added additional chicken stock to make up for the moisture lost without the tomatoes.
Thx Nagi! Loved it!! (And actually I donβt even like lentils). Greetings from Holland. X
This made so many leftovers! We ended up making into a pie the next night β puff pastry on the bottom and mashed potato and cheese on top β it was amazing and there was none left! Great meal for young kids. Thanks Nagi
Yummmmmmmy! The bit of lemon zest and juice at the end is the key!!
Just lovely. Perfect winter nosh. Added parmesan to garnish.
Great recipe Nagi, Only thing I did differently I had a little fresh from the garden broccoli a small amount but thank you it was delicious.
Great recipe. Idk how to cook and it was easy! Thank you for posting, my fianceΓ© loved it too. Will make more in the future.
This recipe is so tasty it could convert the most resistant non-lentil eaters. Yum!
I made a modified version (no garlic or paprika, extra lemon) of this lentil soup yesterday. My friend from Mexico (for whom lentil soup is a staple) said that itβs the best heβs had and food hasnβt tasted this good since his grandfather was alive. Best review I have had on a meal yet!!!
Cooked last night but used black lentils even though Nagi said not to as they turned to mush. Given that the toddler husband HATES lentils I thought that was a good option! Had to recook today for another 20 minutes, added more stock, vigorously blended & topped with coriander. Toddler husband & discerning grandson loved it, big thumbs up.
This soup was fantastic! I served it with your grilled cheese sandwich.