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    Home » Recipes » Soup

    Lentil Soup (vegetarian)

    Published: Jan 11, 2022 · Modified: Aug 24, 2022 by Nataliia

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Lentil soup is a nutritious and affordable recipe the whole family will love. This tasty soup is made with red lentils, potatoes, veggies and tomato paste mirepoix, turmeric, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

    Bowl of chunky yellow lentil soup in a white bowl on a wooden board. There is a slice of lemon on top and some green cilantro next to the bowl.

    I am always so happy to prepare different healthy soups for my family at least once a week. This easy lentil soup recipe was created on a spot, on one of the evenings when my son asked for mini pizzas for dinner. I offered him a compromise: he can have mini pizzas, but along with a bowl of this healthy lentil soup. And I was so proud when he finished the soup before pizza, because it is better than pizza (ha-ha).

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love this lentil soup
    • Ingredients
    • Recommended equipment
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing and reheating
    • Recipe variations and substitutions
    • Other healthy soups you may like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you will love this lentil soup

    -this lentil soup is made with simple affordable ingredients. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples.
    -small kids friendly: this soup is not pureed with a blender, it is chunky but same time very tender and can be offered to smaller kids. The bite-sized potato pieces can be smashed by a fork before serving if needed.
    -this soup is vegetarian but can be a balanced meal itself. The lentils are packed with protein, and together with vegetables will provide a great serving of necessary nutrients.

    Ingredients

    All required ingredients to make the red lentil soup on a flat surface. There are lentils, water, tomato paste, ghee butter, one potato, one carrot, onion, salt, better than bouillon, cilantro, bay leaf and turmeric.

    Red Lentils: I always use red split organic lentils. Organic lentils are still very affordable and contain fewer pesticides compared to conventional ones. You can also use green lentils. 

    Bay Leaf: bay leaf is optional, but if you have one add a leaf or two. 

    Better Than Bouillon: this is my secret ingredient for most of the soups, when I use water instead of broth. I usually use vegetable organic flavor, but any other flavor will work great.

    Turmeric: little bit (or more) of turmeric powder with its amazing anti-inflammatory benefits will add some great color to the soup. 

    Filtered Water: I always use bottled or filtered water for my soups. If your tap water is great, you can use it, of course. 

    Potato: I used yellow potatoes, but you can always use any other type. 

    Ghee Butter: you will need just a little bit for making the mirepoix. 

    Onion: a little bit of diced yellow onion is a must for any soup.

    Carrot: some shredded onions will add great flavor, nutrients, and color. 

    Tomato Paste (mixed with little hot water): tomato paste goes very well with lentils. It brings up all the flavors and gives the soup a hint of sourness. 

    Salt: by taste. Keep in mind if you are using the bouillon base, you will need to add little or no salt to the soup.

    Lemon Juice: just a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end will make your soup taste even better. 

    Recommended equipment

    Mesh strainer: to wash and drain the lentils.

    Medium pot with the lid: for making the soup.

    Frying pan: to make the mirepoix.

    Knife and a cutting board: for peeling and chopping the vegetables.

    Grater box: to grate the carrot.

    Measuring spoons, measuring cup.

    Instructions

    Using the mesh strainer, rinse the lentils couple of times in cold water and drain them. You should always rinse lentils to get rid of dust, possible bugs, and any dirt. I am using split red lentils in this recipe which will cook very fast and do not require soaking. If you are sensitive to legumes, soak the lentils in cold water for a few hours before cooking. 

    Mash strainer with red lentils being drained after rinsing in cold water.

    In a medium-size pan, add water, lentils, bay leaf, turmeric, and better than bouillon base. Bring it to boil uncovered. The lentils will create a lot of foam when start boiling, and will make some mess on your stove if you cover the pot.

    A stainless steel pot on a pink towel filled with lentils, water, bay leaf and bouillon base.

    Prepare the vegetables by first peeling and rinsing them to get rid of any dirt. Dice the onion very small and set aside. Using a shredder box (larger side) shred the carrot. Chop the potatoes into bite-size cubes.

    Three bowls with cubed potatoes, shredded carrots and diced onions.

    Once the lentils start boiling, add cubed potatoes to the pot. Turn the heat on medium-low, cover halfway and let the soup simmer gently. 

    Chopped potatoes being added to the boiling pot of lentil soup.

    Make the mirepoix: in a frying pan, heat the ghee butter. Once it melts and gets hot, add diced onions. Cook them on medium heat for one minute. Add carrots and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables soften up. In a small bowl, add tomato paste and hot water. Mix well and add it to the frying pan. Cover and let it cook for another 3 minutes on low. 

    Small glass bowl with hot water and tomato paste.
    Frying pan with the cooked carrots, onions and some tomato paste.

    Once the potatoes and lentils are soft and almost cooked (it will take them 20-25 minutes to become soft and fully done), add the mirepoix to the boiling soup. Mix it with the spoon and simmer for another 5-10 minutes to marry all the flavors with ingredients. 

    Pot with the cooking lentils, potatoes, carrots, onions and water. There is a spoon submerged in the pot.

    Add lemon juice and extra salt if needed. Do a test, salt always can be added individually. Serve hot and garnish with some lemon slices and cilantro on top. 

    A hand squeezing some lemon juice into the soup.

    Serving suggestions

    Serve this delicious red lentil soup with a slice of lemon and chopped fresh cilantro added to the bowl.

    Fresh french baguette or naan bread go really well with this healthy soup.

    And of course mini pizzas (my son's favorite side to eat with any soup)

    A bowl of yellow lentil soup on a long wooden board, served with a slice lemon

    Storing and reheating

    Refrigeration: let the lentil soup cool down before transferring it to the airtight container. Sore in the fridge for about 3 days. Reheat the needed amount in a small pot over low-medium heat or in a microwave. 

    Freezing: if you decide to freeze this turmeric and lemon lentil soup, skip the potatoes for this recipe. Potatoes will fall apart after freezing. 

    Recipe variations and substitutions

    • Make this lentil soup vegan by using olive oil instead of ghee butter. 
    • Experiment with different vegetables: you can add parsnips, celery, or cauliflower instead of potatoes. 
    • Make it a curry lentil soup by adding some curry powder by taste. 

    Other healthy soups you may like

    • Ukrainian green borscht
    • Creamy carrot and ginger soup

    📖 Recipe

    Bowl of chunky yellow lentil soup in a white bowl on a wooden board. There is a slice of lemon on top and some green cilantro next to the bowl.

    Lentil soup

    Nataliia
    Lentil soup is a nutritious and affordable recipe the whole family will love. This tasty soup is made with red lentils, potatoes, veggies and tomato paste mirepoix, turmeric, and lemon juice.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course dinner, lunch, Soup
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4

    Equipment

    • 1 Medium Pot
    • 1 Frying Pan
    • 1 mesh strainer
    • 1 grater box
    • 1 small bowl
    • measuring spoons
    • 1 Measuring Cup

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup red lentils
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon "better than bouillon" base
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric or more by taste
    • 1 large potato
    • 1 Tablespoon Ghee
    • ¼ small onion
    • 1 carrot
    • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
    • 3 Tablespoons hot water
    • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
    • extra salt by taste

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse and drain lentils in a mesh strainer. In a medium pot add water, lentils, bay leaf, better then bouillon, turmeric. Bring to boil.
    • Cube potatoes and add to the boiling lentils. Cook for about 15 minutes or until lentils and potatoes are almost cooked.
    • Dice onions, grate carrot on a grater box.
    • Make the mirepoix: heat ghee butter in a frying pan. Add diced onions and cook for one minute. Add carrots and cook for another 3 minutes stirring occasionally. Mix tomato paste with hot water until combined. Add the tomato paste mix to the cooking mirepoix, cover and cook on low for another few minutes.
    • Add mirepoix to the boiling soup. Cover and simmer on low for another 10 minutes or until the potatoes are fully cooked and lentils are tender.
    • Add some lemon juice to the soup and extra salt if needed. Turn off the heat. Serve hot and enjoy!

    Notes

    • rinse the lentils few times in a cold water.
    • bring the lentils to boil uncovered to prevent the mess on your stove.
    • do not add salt until you test the soup. Adding the bouillon might be enough of sodium. 
    Keyword lentil soup, red lentils, soup with lentils
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Riyah Speaks

      January 13, 2022 at 3:44 pm

      5 stars
      I always appreciate having vegetarian options to some classic meals. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

      Reply
      • Sava's Kitchen

        January 13, 2022 at 4:52 pm

        Thank you for your kind comment! I hope you will try the recipe soon.

        Reply
    2. leena

      January 13, 2022 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious and I love that its completely composed of healthy whole foods, such a cozy comfort food to enjoy when its cold

      Reply
      • Sava's Kitchen

        January 13, 2022 at 4:53 pm

        Thank you so much for your comment. I agree, this is my son's favorite soup this winter.

        Reply
    3. Keirsten

      January 13, 2022 at 4:40 pm

      I love lentil soup. Swap the ghee for vegan butter and this sounds delicious.

      Reply
      • Sava's Kitchen

        January 13, 2022 at 4:54 pm

        Thank you for your comment. I agree, vegan butter or olive oil are great substitutes to make it vegan.

        Reply
    4. Lyssa

      January 13, 2022 at 5:27 pm

      5 stars
      I love how hearty and healthy this recipe is!

      Reply
    5. Suzanne Gelfound

      January 14, 2022 at 5:12 am

      5 stars
      I love lentil soup I can’t wait to make this! I am looking forward to seeing more recipes!

      Reply

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    A young woman image from heat to the waist. She has long brown hair and wearing a leather jacket over a dark blue t-shirt. She is smiling and looking at the lens of camera.

    Hi there, I'm Nataliia. I am a content creator behind Sava's Kitchen. Here, you will find a lot of healthy family-friendly recipes. My focus is to create versatile nutritious recipes that taste great and are easy to make. Learn more about me by clicking below!

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