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.
Woulld you believe I made Lentil soup yesterday !The clouds were grey and the sea was pounding.very similar to your recipe but I always add chopped silverbeet . Weβve always called it Hippie Soup as the aroma of spices and lentils brings back memories of Nimbin and Byron Bay in the early years . I will definitely be adding that squeeze of lemon . Thanks so much Nagi!
Weβre in sync! Itβs Lentil Soup week! π N xx
Oh, Nagi i love your posts about Dozer β useless, yes, but look at that face!!!! sitting in the middle of a walkway must be a retriever thing β my mix who is part some-type-of-retriever is always sitting in doorways β i am forever stepping over her. My Border collie doesnβt do that.
I will have to try this lentil soup recipe β i have to admit it has tended to be a less favorite soup. But you are correct about it needing a flavor boost. i have always had good luck with your recipes so this one will be going on my βtryβ list.
Because collies are so much smarter!!! Dozer is definitely not the sharpest tool in the shedβ¦.. ha ha ha!!
This looks really delicious and I think Iβll try this out in the slow cookerβ I bet it will be great. You are SO right about the use of citrus to add that special something. I use lemons (and limes) all the time now, and just wish Iβd known what a difference that can make in a dish when I began cooking eons ago. Such an inexpensive and easy addition with such a huge reward.
As for Dozer and your job as his caretaker, boy can I relate. I have five dogs, and my big guy is exactly like yours! Having pets is admittedly a lot of work, but I canβt imagine how dull life would be without them.
I know!! Lemons are now a standard part of my weekly shop! Andβ¦ahemβ¦. 5? Five? FIVE?????
A Dog is a Dog ,your a good Mother ,bless the person that loves and respects Animals , you did not mention Dozzer can calm you with just being near you ,lower blood ailments ,he is walking ,sleeping love , lentils are the real thing very good , thank you for being you ,,Lily
Calm me?? Hmm. Not sure about that! π N xx
As a German I was raised on linden/Erbsen Supper, now in India I serve dhal (any kind) a few times during the week β and your soup looks so very relishes, making me feel a bit peckish actually.
I love love LOVE DHAL!!! I bet you make a mean one! π N xx
Hi Nagi,
Your recipe is just like my Grandmothers except for the cumin & coriander. I kick it up a notch by adding Italian sausage or chicken boneless breasts that I cut in to pieces and saute. I also add cubed potatoes. Give it a try. Itβs what I call my lentil stew. xo
Oooh YES to adding any form of protein! PS Love hearing itβs like your grandmaβs! π N xx
Ah, Dozer is so cute. This is almost identical to my split pea soup except for your addition of paprika and lemon. Donβt know why I hadnβt thought to put the cumin and bay in my lentil soup before now given I use it with split peas. Doh!
Looking forward to making this variation!
Oooh! And youβve inspired me make pea soup! π N xx
Love lentil soup and Dozer π
In that order? Te he he!!!
I added small little pasta shells and little cubed potatoes and it was amazing!!
Oooooh!!! Adding pasta is a good idea β how have I never thought of that before?? So glad you enjoyed it Caroline, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Havenβt had lentil soup in many years . You have inspired me to make some TODAY. I am craving this and can almost taste it.
Oooh! Hope you do try it! π N xx
Love lentils of any kind! . Lentils ( or Dahl as is known in south Asian cuisine) is a staple in my home . Canβt wait to try this as a soup! How do you think I can make this in my slow cooker/ Instant pot?
Hi Taz! You definitely can but it doesnβt need to be cooked for very long! Maybe 3 hours in the slow cooker??
Sounds very good, I like lentils. With my diet on the change, this should be a good thing for me!
I made another batch the other day and loaded it up with extra vegetablesβ¦.. trying to be GOOD!!
Do the flavours come out tasting like Indian food? (I canβt stand the smell and taste of Indian food but I do love lentils!) Thanks.
Nope! Not curry or Indian at all, you canβt really tell there are spices in it, itβs extremely subtle!
Lentil soup might not be sexy but so comforting. This soup looks so delicious, Nagi! I havenβt had lentil soup in a long time but now Iβm craving it after seeing your pretty photos. Mouthwatering delicious!
I know, right?? Just about the blandest sounding soup ever but deceptively so!! π N xx
This is great Nagi, I have a tin of lentils in my cupboard and felt so uninspired, didnβt know what to do with them!
I totally hear you Mariana! I canβt say a tin of lentils inspires me very much either β ha ha ha!!