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.
This has lentil soup has excellent flavour! It was extremely delicious and easy to make. Iβll be making this more often!
I made this tonight for my family, itβs amazing! Although I didnβt have brown lentils, I took your advice and used what I had, like split red lentils, The lemon was delish, I tried the soup before the lemon, and either way, it was really good and far from bland, Loved it!! Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!!! I canβt wait to try your Moroccan basmati and lentil rice recipe, Next on my list!!
Have you ever made this in a slow cooker? What 2oukd you adjust? Thanks!
This is one of best soups I have had! So simple but so full of taste. Iβve never been a big lentil fan, but the flavors really come together and make is delicious!
Wow! The lemon juice made such a difference! Yummy and easy!
I made some adaptions and additions, but listened to your advice about the lemon, and Iβm glad I did!
I am one of those people that does not make comments β but maβam β this deserves recognition! This is so savory and delicious. The lemon is a must indeed. This is now a staple over the cold winters in Wisconsin! Takes adds well too. I mix in some corn, black beans, chicken and spinach. Hearty and satisfying! Thanks for a winner!
Hi Nagi, I cannot remember if I commented on this recipe when I made it first time round β but just have to tell you that it is a regular in our house now. We absolutely love it, and have fed it to so many of our friends who promptly visit your site and print off their own copy. Love your site, your recipes and of course Dozer xx
this is a lovely soup! I have made this plenty of times and it always tastes amazing π I usually blend it up a lot more but tastes good either way.
Delicious!! It tastes really good but it was really thick and the entire bottom of my pot is burnt. Iβm a horrible cook so I mustβve done something wrong β any tips?!
Mine turned out very thick also, had to add 4 additional cups of liquid, also stirred it quite abit and simmered it on low, next time might use just 1 cup of lentils.
Best Lentil soup ever! I was a tiny bit skeptical about the amount of crushed tomatoes called for because the soup looked so tomato-ey, but yum!!! I followed the recipe pretty closely β except I added more garlic (total personal preference) and I had some fresh spinach that needed to be used so I threw that in. I didnβt need to blend anything because the soup came out thick and hearty all on itβs so. So tasty, glad to have found my new favorite lentil soup recipe.
This is hands down my favorite lentil soup recipe. I had two bowls the first time I made it. The lemon is the secret and Nagiβs right, donβt skip it! The lemon adds such a light brightness to the dish. I prefer my soups textured and chunky so I skip the blending step. I also add a can of corn, as well as other veggies if I have them on hand. This soup is so nourishing and perfect on a cold winter day.
Made this today on a cold day and itβs so delicious! I used red lentils which didnβt require blending and garnished with dill. For sure I will be making this again!
New to soups and never cooked lentil. I was wondering so I need to soak the dry lentils in water first ?
Hi. No. Simply rinse well. Then usually boil for 10 minutes and simmer for 15 minutes. Then add to your recipe.
Usually you donβt need to soak fresh dried lentils. However, if theyβve been sitting around for a while, I soak them in cold water while Iβm prepping, then drain them when itβs time to add them to the recipe.
Made this today in a cold day and itβs so delicious! I used red lentils which didnβt require and blending and garnished with dill. For sure I will be making this again!
Yum β great soup for cold London day
My first time cooking lentils and I am so happy with the way it has turned out!
Absolutely delicious and nutritious. It is warm and comforting.
Such a simple and easy recipe, I will definitely be making this again.
Delicious π
Making this tonight. I love soups especially beanie type soups. Plan to add kale at end and cook down because I just donβt like kale and it is the only way I can get it down. I love lentils because they are good for my blood sugar
If you donβt love kale Mary then you can always try spinach added at the end β I love that in soups! N x
Holy cow, this is amazing!!! I love lentil soup and am always trying to find one that I can stick with. This is the one! I did put a little more cumin than what the recipe calls for. Thanks so much Nagi for another amazing recipe!
First time making a lentil soup. Such a lovely recipe!! So easy and relaxing to make. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. π
Absolutely fantastic! This is the first lentil soup recipe that all three of my children devoured. We will be making this again!