You know those recipes you find and then make again and again and again?
This Red Lentil Soup is one of those.
Last summer my good friend brought us a big batch of this soup a few days after Ben was born. It was an instant hit, so I asked for the recipe and have been making it at least once a week ever since.
The flavors in this soup are so robust and so delicious, you’d never guess it only cooks for 20 minutes. It’s perfect for the days you look at the clock only to realize it’s already 5:30 and you have nothing planned for dinner. Not only is Red Lentil Soup quick to prepare, but it’s also made from pantry and fridge staples you may have on-hand anyway.
Even better – kids love this soup. Though Lucy is not normally a big fan of soup (or any other “mixed” dish), she’ll gobble several bowls of this whenever I make it. She loves sprinkling on the rice and squeezing the lemon in herself, which I find totally adorable ;).
Let me know if you try and love this soup as much as we do!
- 1¼ cups red lentils (rinsed and picked through for little stones)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups cooked white rice, for serving (optional)
- Lemon wedges, plain yogurt for serving (optional)
- Place all ingredients (except optional lemon, yogurt and rice) in a medium-sized pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer (uncovered or just partially covered) for about 20 minutes, or until vegetables and lentils are very soft.
- Remove the pot from heat, and carefully blend with an immersion blender (a.k.a. stick blender) for 10-15 seconds until creamy but not totally pureed.
- Place a little rice in the bottom of each bowl and some soup on top. Serve with lemon wedges and dollops of plain yogurt, if desired.
Adapted from Turkish Red Lentil Soup, Whole Planet Foundation
4 Comments
christa gadola
April 13, 2015 at 9:08 amyou shared this recipe with me a while back. and i have since shared it with a friend. we both LOVE it! it’s totally delicious and so easy to make. i’ve added a can of coconut milk to make it richer and that’s quite tasty too!
Amelia Winslow
April 13, 2015 at 1:30 pmI thought of you when I posted this, Christa! The soup always becomes a staple dish for everyone who tries it. Love the idea of adding coconut milk!!
Julie
October 5, 2015 at 8:55 amThis looks great – I love how quickly red lentils cook for last minute meals like this! Have you tried freezing this soup? If so, how was it after being thawed? Expecting a baby soon and trying to start freezing some meals. ? Thanks!!
Amelia Winslow
October 5, 2015 at 12:47 pmIt freezes perfectly! Just add a little more water or broth when reheating, since it gets thicker after sitting. And don’t add the rice til you’re ready to serve. Congratulations on your upcoming new addition 🙂