Lentil Soup
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Lentil soup is a flavorful dish made with lentils, celery, carrots, onion, garlic & seasonings for a delicious bowl of soup for a cozy night.
We love this lentil soup recipe because it’s simple to throw together and has all the best flavors! We like to make this with a loaf of sourdough bread, butternut squash salad, and twix cheesecake for dessert.
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Lentil Soup
Lentil Soup
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 A healthy and flavorful soup!
📌 The soup comes together quickly on the stovetop.
📌 Perfect for a chilly evening or a weekend meal.
Lentil Soup Ingredients
- Oil – Olive oil.
- Onion – Yellow or white, chopped.
- Garlic – Fresh cloves, minced.
- Carrots – Chopped.
- Celery – Chopped.
- Lentils – Dried lentils.
- Tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes.
- Broth – Vegetable or chicken broth.
- Seasonings – Ground cumin, dried Italian seasoning, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
How do you make lentil soup? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, carrots and celery and cook until the onions are tender and translucent.
⭐ Next, stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
⭐ Then, reduce heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are tender.
⭐ Finally, remove the bay leaves and use an immersion blender to blend a bit of the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
What kind of lentils to use for lentil soup?
For this soup, we recommend using brown lentils or flat green lentils. They are the two most common types and are easy to find at the grocery store. Both will hold their shape well and are perfect for soups!
Can lentil soup be made ahead of time?
Yes, this soup can be made a day or two in advance and reheated on the stovetop when ready to serve.
Do I need to use an immersion blender?
We enjoy the texture of the soup with some of the lentils and veggies blended up but it is not necessary to blend the soup.
If you do not have an immersion blender, you can transfer some of the soup to a blender and blend it. Be very careful as the soup will be hot and blending hot liquids should be done with care! It can be dangerous if the soup splatters.
If you are not using an immersion blender and blending the soup in a blender, use extreme caution when transferring hot soup to the blender. Make sure to use short pulses to blend the soup while hot.
Can lentil soup be made in the crock pot?
Yes! You can make this in the slow cooker. Sauté the vegetables (except the lentils) on the stovetop and then transfer to a crock pot. Add the remaining ingredients and cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. When the lentils are tender, the soup is ready!
Storage and leftovers
How long does lentil soup last?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Can lentil soup be frozen?
Yes, this soup will freeze well. Let the soup cool completely and place in a freezer safe airtight container. Make sure to leave enough space for the soup to expand a little. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop.
Tips and tricks
✅ Throw in some red pepper flakes to give the soup a bit of heat.
✅ Make sure to use brown or flat green lentils as these will hold their shape when boiled.
✅ Add ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey for even more protien.
✅ Bulk it up with more veggies like bell peppers, eggplant, and spinach.
Frequently asked questions
What are lentils?
Lentils are a vegetable in the legume family that are high in protein and low in fat. There are several different kinds of lentils that work well in many different dishes.
Can I make this soup vegetarian or vegan?
Yes, you can easily make this soup vegetarian and vegan by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
How can I make this soup gluten-free?
This soup is naturally gluten-free as long as the ingredients you use, including the broth, are certified gluten-free.
Can I add protein to this soup?
Lentils are actually very high in protein but if you want to add more protein, you can include cooked chicken, diced ham, or even white beans. Just add them in during the last few minutes of cooking to heat through. You could even fry up some chopped bacon and add those to the soup if desired.
What to enjoy with lentil soup (serving suggestions)
We love this easy soup recipe because it is so flavorful and rich. We like to enjoy it with some homemade crusty French bread or some homemade dinner rolls. Make sure to enjoy some cool whip candy or millionaire pie for dessert.
Other great soup recipes
- Ham and bean soup
- Beef and cabbage soup recipe
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Italian sausage soup
- Broccoli cheese soup
- Best potato soup recipe
- Pumpkin curry soup
- Wild rice soup
- Brussels sprouts soup
- Potato leek soup recipe
- Creamy asparagus soup
- See all our easy soup recipes!
Tools we love
- Enameled cast iron pot – This is a great and super versatile pot that can be used in both the oven and on the stove top.
- Spoons – Are you a large spoon or small spoon person? My husband teases me because I use a teaspoon for everything.
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How to Make Lentil Soup
Lentil Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 pound dried lentils about 2 cups
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 8 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, carrots and celery and cook until the onions are tender and translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves. Use an immersion blender to blend a bit of the soup, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Throw in some red pepper flakes to give the soup a bit of heat.
- Make sure to use brown or flat green lentils as these will hold their shape when boiled.
- Add ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey for even more protien.
- Bulk it up with more veggies like bell peppers, eggplant, and spinach.
Nutrition
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I love making recipes like this for my family. This is so heart AND healthy. The flavor is amazing, as well.
This is my kind of soup! Easy to make and very flavorful! My total comfort food!
The Lentil Soup is fantastic! It’s so hearty and flavorful, and it was a big hit with my family. I love how nutritious it is, and it’s perfect for a cozy dinner.
It’s the perfect choice for a cozy night, offering a delicious and hearty bowl of warmth. Love soup!