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lentil soup in a white bowl
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3.81 from 26 reviews

The Best Lentil Soup

This Lentil Soup recipe is hearty, healthy, filling, budget friendly and absolutely delicious. Lentils are simmered with vegetables and spices in a tasty broth.
Course Dinner, Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword Best Lentil Soup Recipe, Lentil Soup Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 265kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic finely chopped or minced
  • 3 carrots finely chopped
  • 3 cup celery stalks finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 pound lentils picked and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounces) can diced tomatoes
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth plus more if needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground all-spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Juice from 1/2 lemon (about 2 teaspoons)

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the the onions, garlic, carrots and celery and sauté stirring frequently until the onions become translucent, approximately 5-6 minutes.
  • Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin, ground black pepper, all spice and ginger and stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 30-35 minutes or until the lentils become tender. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
  • To make the soup creamy without adding any cream, blend some of the soup with an immersion blender to your desired consistency or by using a regular blender, blend about 2 cups of the soup until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and stir to combine. If the soup is too thick, add additional broth until it reaches your desired consistency.

To Make Lentil Soup In The Instant Pot

  • Sauté: Turn the sauté function on. Heat the oil and sauté the onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Sauté until the onions become translucent. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin, ground black pepper, all spice and ginger and stir to combine
  • Cook on High Pressure: Close the lid and seal the pot. Cook on high pressure for 11 minutes.
  • Release the Pressure: When the cooking cycle is complete, release the pressure by doing a quick release. Stir and season to taste. Stir in the lemon juice.

To make Lentil Soup In The Slow Cooker

  • Heat the oil and sauté the onions, garlic, carrots and celery in a sauté pan or skillet. Sauté until the onions become translucent.
  • Transfer this mixture to the slow cooker. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin, ground black pepper, all spice and ginger to the crock pot and stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours or until the lentils become tender. Season and stir in the lemon juice.

Notes

  • Rinse the lentils under cold running water before adding them to the soup.
  • Lentils don't require any pre-soaking!
  • Don't skip the fresh lemon juice! It adds freshness and brightness to the soup.
  • I prefer brown or green lentils to make this soup. If you use red lentils, reduce the cooking time to 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1337mg | Potassium: 747mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4392IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 5mg