This soup recipe was a long time coming! Over the years, I made some lackluster lentil soups that never saw the light of day on this website. No vegetarian food blog would be complete without a proper lentil soup, though, so I perfected one of my own.
Here it is. My lentil soup is made with mostly pantry ingredients but includes hearty greens and a squeeze of lemon for bright, fresh flavor. It’s seasoned with a few of my favorite spices and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Honestly, it’s the best lentil soup I’ve ever had.
The original title of this recipe was “Spiced Vegan Lentil Soup,” which is accurate, but a mouthful. With over 500 five-star reviews, I think it’s safe to call this the Best Lentil Soup. Period.
Whether you’re looking to lighten up your meals or warm up with a steaming bowl of soup, this healthy lentil soup recipe is for you! It’s one of my all-time favorites and I hope it becomes a staple in your kitchen as well.
How to Make the Best Lentil Soup
Five reasons to love this recipe:
- The recipe calls for seasonal vegetables and affordable pantry ingredients, but tastes gourmet.
- This lentil soup has an amazing hearty texture that’s lightly creamy (yet there is no cream). The trick is to blend up a portion of the soup once the lentils are tender, and then pour it back into the pot. It’s like magic.
- This nutritious, well-balanced soup counts as a meal if you enjoy a generous portion. Lentils are rich in protein, fiber, iron and folate.
- Lentil soup packs well for lunch in a leak-proof container, and it tastes even better the next day.
- This soup freezes and defrosts well. Make soup now and enjoy it later!
Watch how to make lentil soup
Please let me know how this lentil soup turns out for you in the comments. I’m always so eager to hear from you.
If you love this soup, check out my hearty vegetarian chili, favorite black bean soup and pinto posole. You can check out all my soup and stew recipes here.
Don’t miss my lentil minestrone recipe in my cookbook—if you’re a fan of this soup, you’re going to love it.
Best Lentil Soup
- Author:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
This simple vegan lentil soup recipe comes together quickly with mostly pantry ingredients. Be sure to have your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking! Recipe yields four large bowls of soup, or six more modest servings.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, lightly drained
- 1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup chopped fresh collard greens or kale, tough ribs removed
- 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (½ to 1 medium lemon), to taste
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. One-fourth cup olive oil may seem like a lot, but it adds a lovely richness and heartiness to this nutritious soup.
- Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, in order to enhance their flavor.
- Pour in the lentils, broth and the water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
- Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender. Securely fasten the lid, protect your hand from steam with a tea towel placed over the lid, and purée the soup until smooth. Pour the puréed soup back into the pot. (Or, use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup.)
- Add the chopped greens and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the greens have softened to your liking. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice until the flavors really sing. For spicier soup, add another pinch or two of red pepper flakes.
- Serve while hot. Leftovers will keep well for about 4 days in the refrigerator, or can be frozen for several months (just defrost before serving).
Notes
Soup recipe roughly based on America’s Test Kitchen’s lentil soup in The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook, with reference to The First Mess’ favourite lentil soup.
Recommended equipment: (affiliate links) I love my Vitamix blender and Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven. For more of my favorite cooking tools, shop my kitchen essentials.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Stephanie
I love lentil soups and enjoy finding new variations. I’ve tried curried spiced versions and often the flavor overpowers the flavors of everything else but not this one. It’s really delicious! In an effort to use more quality fat, I used 3 tablespoons of organic triple filtered coconut oil in place of the olive oil (no coconut taste). It also allows sautéing of veggies at higher temps without the worry of oil burning (olive oil can do that if heat is too high). I also used baby kale because that’s what I had in my fridge (2.5 oz). I used an immersion blender briefly still leaving plenty of lentils and veggies whole to get the thickness/creaminess without having to transfer to a blender (easier and less cleanup). Friends and family enjoyed it too.
Prema
The family loved it. What more do i need.
I didn’t have stock…so quickly used up 1 maggi cube.
★★★★
Liz
This is, in fact, the best lentil soup. I make the recipe exactly (except for adding more garlic, which I think goes without saying) and it comes out amazing every time. People are constantly asking me for the recipe!
★★★★★
Marc
Made this for dinner. Yum!
Sarah
Kate, I agree with you – best lentil soup I’ve ever had! I made this a few weeks ago, enjoyed a bowl, and put the other three servings in the freezer. I grabbed one on my way to work this morning and am currently sitting at my desk in awe of how good it is (how did I forget so quickly?)! It’s hearty, slightly acidic, and perfectly spiced. This is going in my regular rotation (meaning I might just have it every day for lunch). Seriously, thank you for such an awesome recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great to hear, Sarah! Thanks for sharing it worked well in the freezer. I don’t test all my recipes in the freezer so always good to know from my readers what works well! Enjoy the other leftovers.
Mikaela
All I can say is THANK YOU thank you THaNk YoU, for this gem of a recipe!!!!! This is my go to recipe for when I need a quick dinner, want to meal prep lunches, have surprise company (serve with a crusty loaf of bread and salad), and everything in between. It is PERFECTION. I have seriously made this no less than 20 times since I discovered the recipe last fall and it will stay in my recipe box forevvvaaa!
★★★★★
Kate
So happy to hear that, Mikaela! It is nice to have a go-to when life gets busy. Thanks so much for your comment and review!
Jennifer Hartsock-Vandine
I love this recipe! It is so good! I used crushed tomatoes so that I don’t have to put anything in the blender. Also added higher proportion of lentils for extra protein. It is so good! The perfect lunch!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Jennifer for your review!
Denise Hershey
I was making this for the first time last night and realized I ONLY had crushed tomatoes in my pantry, so I was going to see if anyone had tried it with crushed instead of diced. Thank you for posting this review and letting me know it would still be great! This turned out AMAZING. Seriously phenomenal flavor and will be on regular rotation in my home. I’m contemplating the addition of arborio rice added in the future, as another lentil soup I used to make incorporated that and it was a really nice touch.
★★★★★
Kay
This is my new favorite lentil soup recipe! It is really fantastic. The first time I made it exactly like the recipe but the lentils didn’t get get all the way soft. So the second time I left out the canned tomatoes intending to add then toward the end, but I forgot. It honestly didn’t change the taste that I could tell. Both times I loved it!! Thanks, Kate! I plan to check or more of your recipes.
★★★★★
Kate
Great! Thank you for sharing and for your review, Kay. For the lentils, what type did you use? As directed? Sometimes lentils can take a little longer so you may need to adjust. Happy you still liked the soup, though!
Kay
I’m not sure what kind I used my first two times. Today I bought a new pack of organic brown lentils and they still didn’t get all the way soft even after a long time cooking. Should I try leaving the tomatoes til the end? At any rate, we love this soup! My friend agreed that the texture was fine (I pureed qui
te a bit of it) and the soup tasted great!
Sally
Yum!! Super delicious and hearty. When I made it the first time, I thought sweet potato would be a nice addition. So I diced one up small and added it in. Thanks!!
Kate
Sounds wonderful! Thanks, Sally for your review. If you would like to leave a star review, I would appreciate it.
Nisrine C
Reallyyyyy good soup!! Very simple to make yet very hearty and flavourful! It’s the first time I come across your site. I guess I’ll be trying other recipes soon!! Thank you ;)
Kate
It is a good one to start out with, that is for sure! Happy you came across the blog, Nisrine. There are a lot of recipes to try :)
Bonnie
We had this soup over the weekend, and it really is the best lentil soup we had ever tasted. This one will be made over and over again throughout the winter months. A little crusty bread, and this was one hearty and sensational meal. Thank you so much for posting it. Even my meat loving husband loves the recipes I make from your site.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for trying it! I appreciate your feedback and review. Winning over husbands can be hard, but happy to help out. Love that you are having success!
Karen
I don’t normal comment… but this soup is so delicious I had to!! Thank you! Finally found the Perfect lentil soup recipe
★★★★★
Kate
I am happy you commented, Karen! Thank so much for your review.
Britany
Hi I’m making this now. It is a good recipe. I enjoy trying vegan soups. I added potatos.
★★★★★
Kate
How did it turn out? Thanks so much for the review, Britany!
Laura D.
Made this for a friend who’s battling cancer and kept some for myself. It’s amazing! (My friend agreed, so this isn’t just me tooting my own horn). I didn’t include the leafy greens because I didn’t have any, but I don’t think it suffered for it. I will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Liz
I just had two bowls of this soup. It’s so delicious! It’s a symphony for the palate! I didn’t have curry powder, so I found a recipe online to mix my own, and I put in a pinch or so of some of the spices to taste. Hopefully I’ll be able to replicate it next time. Thank you! Every recipe I try from you always is perfect.
★★★★★
Kate
You are sweet, Liz! I am happy your homemade version of the curry powder worked well. Thanks so much for your review!
Sydney
How important is it to puree the 2 cups of the soup? I just moved abroad and I don’t have a blender :(
Kate
It just makes it less stew like and more creamy. But it would still be great even if you couldn’t blend two cups :)
Sydney
Awesome! Thank you for the quick response :)
Jennifer
Great recipe! We’re transitioning to a more plant-based diet and I’ve been looking for great protein-rich dishes to make. This is a winner!! I doubled the recipe and added diced sweet potato and zucchini (and a chunk of ginger to reduce gas) but pretty much kept to the recipe as written. We ate it for dinner and my 11-year old was very pleased. The best lentil soup I’ve ever made, and honestly among the best I’ve tasted.
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! That is great to hear. Thank you, Jennifer for your comment and review. Happy plant-based eating :)
Kerry
Oh my goodness – this soup is the nicest, loveliest, heartiest, tastiest soup I’ve ever made! I will never make another…! I made it with red lentils instead though as I didn’t have any brown or green. It works well too, top marks to the inventors of this recipe.
Kate
You are sweet, Kerry! Thank you for your comment. If you would want to leave a star review since you liked it so much, that would be great!
Sylvia
I give this soup I️t is the best I have ever had it’s delicious and very satisfying, my children loved I️t as well..from now on I will make this soup for my family…
Kate
That’s fantastic, Sylvia! Since you liked it so much, I would love a star review- if you wouldn’t mind :)
Melissa
Deliciously warm and comforting on this cold day. I ran out of diced canned tomatoes and lemons and the roads are too icy to drive to the store today so I used fresh diced cherry tomatoes, a splash of balsamic vinegar in place of lemon and extra red pepper flakes. Served with homemade warm crusty bread – delicious!!!
★★★★★
Kate
Sounds wonderful, Melissa! I am happy you had a warm soup on such a cold day :) Thank you for your review!
Kiirsti
My fall goal is to make a new soup every week. My first two weeks have been your recipes. This was my second (tortilla soup was the first, also delicious!). I’m really impressed with how this recipe turned out. I didn’t have thyme but substituted some rosemary and it still turned out delicious. I added some bell pepper and mushrooms because I needed to use them up. If you’re a mushroom fan, I would recommend this addition!
★★★★★
Kate
I love that goal, Kiirsti! Thanks for your comment and review.
Pete
Followed the recipe exactly and wow, I have to agree this is the best lentil soup I’ve ever had. Great job!
Kate
Thank you, Pete! I am glad you like it so much.
Teresa Campbell
I LOVE this recipe and so does everyone I’ve served it to, thank you for posting it! Lately I’ve been garnishing it with fresh walnut butter! YUM.
★★★★★
Kate
Sounds like a great addition, Teresa! Thank you for your comment and star review.
Rachael
Perfect. We make this once a week!
★★★★★
Kate
It is a good one for sure, Rachael! Thank you so much for your review.
Andrea
My mom and I enjoyed the soup but I found it a bit tart. Any suggestions for ways to help offset the acidity? I’m wondering if it’s because I didn’t drain the canned tomatoes (I put all the juice into the soup).
Kate
Hmm… it could be the juice from the tomatoes or even the lemon juice at the end. Some tastebuds can pick up the acidity in the lemon more than others. Possibly add less lemon juice next time or omit it altogether.
Andrea
Thanks Kate! I’ll try that.
Chris
I have made this soup three times and each time it turned out extremely good. I made it in the Instant Pot twice. I reduced the water to 1 cup, used HP for 15 minutes, added the kale after releasing pressure, and kept everything else the same.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Chris for sharing! I appreciate your note for the Instant Pot. I don’t try most of my recipes like this so I love hearing what you did.
Diana Cooper
I have made your Vegetarian Lentil Soup many times and it has become a big favorite. Nice rich texture and flavors, I sometimes make a non-vegetarian version by adding about a half pound of browned sausage. Either way, it’s delicious!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Diane! Happy to hear this is a big favorite of yours. It is so good!
Shoshana
I’m always a fan of your recipes and this one does not disappoint! I Literally so good. I only had about 3/4 lentils- no problem. I skipped anything spicy (so my kids would eat it). And I didn’t have kale but still what a delicious soup. I think the magic is in the spice blend. Thank you for producing wholesome, easy and delicious recipes! Also sending well wishes to Cookie!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you on all fronts, Shoshana! I’m happy you were able to enjoy it.
Jessica H
My brother made this recipe for our family and my wife and I loved it. We decided to try it ourselves and it was great. We enjoyed each bite and are looking forward to making it again soon.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great. Thank you for your comment, Jessica!
Jan
I followed the recipe except I used on,y half the spice as my guest cannot handle spice. I Jean added a stalk of celery and when I added the lentils, I also added 1/4 cup of quinoa and once I blended it at the end, it was very much like a stew. It is lovely.
Karen
I think this soup could be great with only two or three cloves of garlic instead of four and I am eager to try that next time. With four cloves, the garlic steps on the other flavors.
The addition of curry creates a soothing, Indian flavor. Very welcome to the palate! Again the garlic gets in the way a bit.
Overall, very easy to make and a nice, hearty soup for the winter months.
★★★
Kate
Hi Karen – I am sorry you are disappointed by the amount of garlic. I think the recommended of course works well with the other flavors, but understand how you would want to cut it down. I think that is a great idea to bring to soup more to your liking! :) Let me know the next time you make it with less garlic and what you think it does to the flavors.
Karen
KATE! I welcome this chance to update the number of stars to FIVE! So the soup was super garlicky when I first made it, but after it sat overnight in the fridge, it was PERFECT! I brought it to work to share and my friends went nuts. My vegan friend, Robin, said she was inspired and is going to get a blender so that she can make the soup too. We love Cookie. :-) And, it means a lot to me that you responded. Consider us loyal fans!
★★★★★
Anna
Delicious!!! My husband n I loved it
Kate
That is great, Anna!
Dunia
Thank you so much for this wholesome deliciousness of a recipe! I’ve made this lentil soup a few times and this time I quadrupled it. I want to make sure I have some for neighbors and xtra for us. This has such amazing flavor, light not heavy and I use what I have on hand which is basically the recipe ingredients. This is a keeper and is my go to lentil recipe. Thanks again!
Kate
You are very welcome, Dunia! You are so nice to share with your neighbors.
Madison
So AMAZING! I had a very small wedding in the mountains and served this at our reception. YES, I made this the night before the wedding. Thank you Kate!
★★★★★
Kate
Congratulations, Madison! I am honored to have a recipe feature on your big day. I hope it was just perfect :) Thank you for your review.
Esther Weiss
I made this recipe on Thanksgiving and got LOADS of compliments. Thank you!
Esther (Maryland)
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Esther! Thank you for making it and for your review. I appreciate it.
Karen Lukehart
This soup is hands down my favorite! I’m so thankful for your recipe. I have made it many times and a go to favorite. I add shredded rotisserie chicken for my meat loving husband, and always use lacinato kale….so yummy.
★★★★★
Kate
I love to hear that, Karen! It is a favorite of mine as well. Thank you for your review!
Kathleen
This looks delicious. My husband doesn’t like the taste of cumin. Will it be okay without or do you suggest any substitutions (perhaps chili powder or extra curry)? Thank you!
Kate
You can add extra curry or try chili powder, for sure! Let me know what you think.
Saads
Hi! Wondering if I can use any other lentils that I have on hand..? Thanks
Kate
Hi Saads – I recommend green or brown based on how firm they are. These are usually easy to find in the store. Others can soften too much in the soup and can fall apart. If you have others, you may need to adjust the cooking time, but make sure you cook the vegetables long enough to make-up for the less time for the lentils. I hope this helps!
Sue
Loved this recipe. I really like curry so this was awesome. I used red lentils instead and bok choy because that what I had on hand. Definitely saved this recipe and will be making again! Thanks for posting.
★★★★★
Kate
I am happy to hear you were able to use somethings on hand! Thank you for trying it and for your star review. I really appreciate it!
Samantha
Why does it look like there are chickpeas in it from the picture?
Kate
Hi Samantha – Those are the lentils used for the soup. Since I used green lentils, they are lighter in color. Hope this helps!
Lori
I know this is an old post, but just had to tell you how much I love this recipe! I’ve made it numerous times for my vegan daughter and friends and for non-vegan guests too, and it’s a favorite! I double the cumin and curry though, because I love the flavors. Thanks for a great recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
No worries! I love hearing from you. Thank you for your comment and review, Lori.
Diane
Fantastic lentil soup recipe! Real comfort food. Thank you so much for sharing. :)
★★★★★
Kate
You are very welcome, Diane! Thanks for your review.
Zoe
I love this soup so much! I found this recipe maybe around the end of 2016, and a year later I’m still making it! In fact, ever since then, I always make sure to have it stocked in my freezer. Anytime I run out, I immediately make more. I’ve even made it for a few friends and family and they love it as well. Since I’ve made a few batches, each one ends up with slightly different ingredients. I’ve added corn, mushrooms, zucchini, spinach and more veggies before (even used multiple different kinds of lentils) and it always turns out amazing! Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
I love that! What a great thing to always have on hand, Zoe. Thanks so much for your comment and review!
Ky
This soup is amazing and sooo easy! Thanks
Kate
Thank you!
Marlon Cahoon
This is THE BEST lentil soup recipe! I followed your instructions exactly as stated and it’s pure perfection….thank you for the goodness. I wouldn’t want to change a thing about it. I use a white onion and kale for the options.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Marion! I am glad you like it so much. I appreciate the review!
Marlon Cahoon
It’s Marlon not Marion, but that’s ok! Happens all the time.
Caroline Marks
Thank you for this! It’s absolutely gorgeous!!
Kate
Thank you, Caroline! I appreciate the comment.
Lauren
I know this recipe has been around for awhile, but this is my favorite never-fail soup! It’s comforting, enticing, and hearty without being heavy and over-indulgent. I love making this soup for friends or freezing a big batch for myself to eat throughout the month. I make this recipe using Tagine seasoning instead of curry powder and it still tastes wonderful! Thanks for making this omnivore crave lentils!
★★★★★
Kate
It’s a favorite for sure! I am glad you think so as well, Lauren. I appreciate the comment and review.
Tanya
made this soup couple times now and its amazing!!! i love it, my husband loves it and all our friends too.
thank you for sharing this recipe its awesome :)
★★★★★
Kate
Happy to hear it’s a hit with your circle! Thank you, for your feedback Tanya.
Caroleen
This looks great. Can I try tomato sauce or paste instead of diced tomatoes?
Kate
You will want the diced tomatoes for the consistency and flavor. Hope this helps!
Shannon F
Best lentil soup I’ve had. So flavourful.
★★★★★
Kate
Love that! Thank you, Shannon.
Cathy
So delicious and hearty. I had a bowl 2nd then went back for another. Vegan since July and looking for new recipes. Trying not to eat so many of the packaged protein meats. *****
Kate
This is a great one for sure!
Kristen
Just made this and it turned out SO well! Used collard greens… I’m in heaven!
Kate
That’s great!
Elizabeth
Made this tonight because it is cold and rainy out! It warmed me right up. Soo good. I love that it can be a great dinner or lunch. I have already put it in portioned containers for the week.
Kate
It’s great leftover for sure!
Amy
This is honestly the best soup I’ve ever eaten. I’ve made it twice in 2 weeks. My 10 month old son and 3 year old daughter LOVE it. My daughter told me she wanted soup for breakfast this morning when she woke up! So delicious with warm buttered sourdough bread. Thank you for this recipe! It freezes beautifully too so we’ll pretty much always have it on hand!
★★★★★
Kate
It’s a favorite that is for sure. Thanks so much, Amy for your review!
Bridget
This soup is SO GOOD! It was perfect for a chilly night. I have a bunch of lentils I’ve been needing to use up and this was the perfect recipe for them. I didn’t have curry powder so I left that out and added some extra cumin, a little cayenne, and a bunch of turmeric instead. I never would have thought to purée some of the soup but this was a brilliant idea and made the soup thick and creamy. The addition of lemon juice really helped bring out the flavors as well. I topped mine with avocado and just a little bit of hot sauce. Perfect! I will absolutely make this again!
Kate
Thank you! It is a favorite. I’m happy you think so to!
Adriana
This has to be the BEST lentil soup I’ve ever made or eaten. Simple recipe yet so flavorful and delicious. I can’t wait to make it for my husband.
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks so much Adriana! I appreciate the review and comment.
Stephanie
I love this recipe! I made it with red lentils and it turned out great – even my meat-eating husband loved it! That last squeeze of fresh lemon juice really adds a brightness to the flavor. This one is a keeper in our house.
★★★★★
Kate
Great! Thank you, Stephanie for your comment and star review. I really appreciate it.
Tasha
Just wanted to post a long overdue comment about this amazing soup! I’ve made this around 8 times, and it’s my absolute favorite lentil soup recipe!! Its hearty, filling and delicious!! I love the addition of the cumin and curry powder for a change of taste – my absolute fav!
Kate
I’m happy you did! Thank you. If you would want to leave a star review since you liked it so much, that would be wonderfuL!
Tasha
Ooh, I thought I did – sorry! I think I added it (probably best not to do it from my phone!) – Tasha
★★★★★
Elizabeth Visconti
Excellent, my husband and kids loved it even though one of them doesn’t like lentils. Definitely adding to my rotation!
★★★★★
Kate
Great! Thanks, Elizabeth.
Aaron Kulik
question about the blender part of your instructions. i have a nutribullet. ive used that when making butternut squash soup – and it makes everything very smooth and creamy. but in your pictures, i can still see some small chunks of veggies and lentils. so is the blending part really necessary?
Kate
I like to blend just a portion of the soup to give it a little bit creamier consistency. You don’t have to, but I recommend it. The flavors meld very well this way too! The bullet should work well.
Kirsty
Hello from the UK! This is delicious; I was looking for some healthy, vegetarian lunch ideas for the New Year and stumbled on this.
I used green puy lentils which were great. Just a tip – for those UK readers – collard greens are spring greens!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you stumbled, Kirsty! Thanks for your comment and review.
Jill Barnes
The Vegan Lentil Soup was delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
I made some changes- I used red lentils (it’s what we had in the pantry). I also made it in a crockpot and didn’t puree it. I quickly wilted some kale and added it right before serving. I felt like a real hero with how quickly dinner was on the table after I got home from work. We served with fresh-out-of- the-oven (from frozen) whole wheat rolls. Everyone loved it.
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for sharing how you altered the recipe! I’m happy you enjoyed it.
Tracy
My husband was upset that I wasn’t making plain lentils and rice . . . until he tasted the soup. He ended up having two bowls!!
Kate
That’s a win! Thanks, Tracy.
Rebecca
I’ve made this soup about 5 times in the last month. It’s sooooo good!! The last time I made it, I used kale and added a 1/2 tsp of turmeric and that was really yummy too. Thanks for the recipe Kate!
★★★★★
Kate
That’s awesome! Thank you, for your comment and star review.
Jeff
Kate, my wife and son were both sick so I went online looking for a hearty sounding lentil soup and found yours. Made it tonight and everyone loved it. Very simple and the flavor was great. We all went back for seconds. Thanks for putting it online! (I added some chopped zucchini as well.)
Kate
I hope everyone is on the mend! Thanks, Jeff for your comment and I’m happy it was just want your family needed.
Nikki
Great soup, thanks for the recipe!
It definitely did to need all that oil, I just used 1 tbsp and it was awesome.
If anyone wants at least an approximate calorie count, I put it into a counter and came up with 4 servings for about 200-250 calories, depending on how you tweak your ingredients (and only using 1 tbsp oil). Wonderful, low calorie, hearty, DELICIOUS soup!
I used a few more carrots (230g) and less oil but those are the only changes I made. I love this soup, thanks again.
★★★★★
Nikki
Whoops – did NOT need all that oil, not did TO need…
I have to learn to proofread first.
Kate
Glad to hear that, Nikki! I appreciate you taking the time to review :)
Peninna Oren
I made this recipe for at least the third time today. Recipe is one of my bookmarks and I’ve recommended it to lots of friends over the last year or two. It’s just so good. Huge fan!
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for your support and recommendations! I do truly appreciate it.
Arianna
Amazing recipe! I will definitely try and make it soon!
Just a quick question, did you use canned precooked lentils or the hard ones that have to stay in water overnight before use?
Sending love from Italy,
Arianna
Kate
For this recipe, I recommend brown or green lentils. You can find them in your grocery store, but they don’t require to soak overnight. The directions account for cooking time and non-cooked lentils. I hope this helps!
Leslie
Hi! I only have a large can of “crushed tomatoes” in my cupboard. Do you think this substitute will be ok for the diced tomatoes ?
Thanks!!
Leslie
Kate
The crushed tomatoes will change the texture and the flavor, unfortunately. I wouldn’t recommend it. But, if you try it – let me know what you thought :)
Leslie
I tried it with the crushed tomatoes and it was excellent! My boyfriend raved about it– which surprised me, hah! I will make it again with the chopped tomatoes and decide which one I prefer. Great recipe though, thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Jann G.
I just found and made this recipe tonight; it is so delicious!! I used half the oil, red lentils instead of green or brown, spinach instead of kale, plus I added zucchini. Again, it is super yummy, and that lemon juice added last is a must! Definitely a keeper for a hearty Vegan meal! Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
It’s a favorite for sure. Love your variation. Lemon juice just has away of making flavors really sing. Enjoy the leftovers! They are even better :)
Alyse
Thanks for sharing this recipe. Made this last night and my man commented on the delicious curry seasoning (which I also assembled myself).
Kate
That’s wonderful! Way to go. :) I appreciate the review, Alyse.
Kelsey
Really tasty! Didn’t add carrots because I don’t like soft/warm carrots but was really great and filling regardless. Could probably go with a little less OO.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Kelsey for the review!
Victoria
This is a delicious lentil soup. I hardly ever comment on recipes, but this one deserves it. I’ve made this at least half a dozen times and it never fails. I cut the cumin in half (I’m not a big cumin fan) and use spinach instead of kale. It is a big hit with my 8 yr old and picky 7year old. I sometimes serve it with garlic naan. Yum!!!! It’s currently cooking too. Thanks for the recipe!!!!!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you!!
Criona Bowman
Absolutely love the Vegan Lentil Soup! It was simple, quick to make, and delicious!!! Even my kids who are not fans of curry or meatless dishes loved it.
Kate
Great, Criona! It’s a great one as leftovers too.
Claudia
I did make this wonderful spicy soup, and it is glorious! I had spinach on hand, so I substituted it for the Kale….pretty fab!
Veronica
I also made this soup tonight… not once, but TWICE! My fiancé is vegan and I’m startig to become vegan as well and I wanted a good meal for dinner tonight and stumbled onto this recipe and HOLY SHIZZ this is amazing! So good, we ate (2 people mind you) an entire pot of this and then we wanted to take some to work with us tomorrow, so I whipped up another batch! We only had a can of tomatoes with green chilies after I made the first batch and I was out of greens so I made it with Swiss chard and it STILL came out amazingly. This one is going into my recipe archive! Thank you so much for this awesome recipe. I forgot to mention I hate beans and lentils and this makes me want to eat them, not once once a day but twice!
Kate
Wonderful! Thank you, Claudia.
Ruth Ramirez-Tafolla
I have made this soup twice in the past month. It’s delicious and very hearty! Even my very picky husband enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing.
Kate
It’s a great on to have on repeat! I find that even the pickiest eaters like this one. Seems to be true for you too. :) Thanks, Ruth!
Janet Vinyard
Hi Kate, I love, love, love this soup! It is so hearty and warm! I use a box of frozen spinach (for quick convenience) in place of the kale. I also don’t pureed it because I enjoy it just the way it is! Thanks for a real keeper of a recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed it, Janet.
Amy McNally
Really excellent lentil soup. I used French green lentils, spinach, and chicken broth – on hand. A keeper!
★★★★★
Kate
Great! Thank you, Amy.
Jenna Walls
I’ve been making this soup for over a year now. This is the recipe that led me to discover your site! A friend made this for me and it was so good that I asked her for the recipe and now I use your recipes all the time. Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
I love that! Thank you for your support, Jenna.
Dianna
This looks delicious! I have a bunch of cooked lentils in the fridge from another recipe. If I use those pre cooked lentils, should I not add the additional liquid?
Kate
I haven’t tried this soup with pre-cooked lentils before, but I would recommend omitting the 2 cups water. Let me know how it goes!
Emily
Loved it! Different from my normal veggie soup, but loved trying something a bit different. Very balanced, great spice ratio!
Kate
Thanks for trying it, Emily!
Sandy Rothrock
We made this to take on a family trip to make sure we had some veggies in our diet for the weekend. (Cousins we went with love on fried foods and chips :) It was awesome and has become a go to on the few cold days we do get in central Texas!!
★★★★★
Kate
What a great idea, Sandy! Thank you, for the review.
Robin Nichols
Very good! I’ve tried making lentil soup before and eating it was like taking my medicine. But this is comforting and enjoyable. I will use a little less cumin next time.
I only had 3/4 cup lentils so I used less oil and water. It still made six servings of 1.25 cup each.
Kate
I have never heard that comparison before! I’m glad this one was a much better experience. Thank you, Robin for sharing!
Jodi
Just made this. It’s deelish! And I bet it will be even better leftover. Looking forward to the next few days of work lunches! Thanks!
Kate
Yes, it is SO good left over. Enjoy, Jodi!
Sehara
Yummy! Delicious soup! The best lentil soup I’ve ever had. My husband even had some and liked it and he hates lentils! He thinks they taste like dirt normally
★★★★★
Kate
Win! Thank you, Sehara for sharing.
Jackie
I’ve been making recipes from your blog for a few years, but somehow this one got skipped. I finally made this for the first time on Saturday and I’ve already finished the entire pot by myself. It was fabulous! The textures and levels of flavors work together so well. Not sure if it was the curry or the lemon that pushed it to the next level of wonderful! This native K.C. girl will be making this again soon.
★★★★★
Kate
I love that! It’s never too late, Jackie. :) Thank you for sharing and stay warm!
Cecile
I had delicious lentil soup at 1000 Figs restaurant in New Orleans, which prompted me to look for one with cumin in it. This is not that same soup, but it’s oh-so-delicious in its own right. Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome! Thank you, Cecile for the review.
Maribel Jimeno
I have a question. Have you ever tried Garam Masala instead of curry powder in this recipe? I find that there are many variations of curry powder that vary in quality. I have a really good Garam masala made from a local farmers market and i was wondering if it could work here.
Kate
I haven’t tried that! The amount of curry powder here is small, so I think you could safely use your spice blend here, especially since you know you like the flavor!
patty
This is my go to recipe when I want a healthy and delicious dinner! I really appreciate that it is a simple, uncomplicated recipe that comes together quickly and tastes outstanding. I have cooked it for company and not only has everyone loved it, they have added it to their menu rotations! The only change I have made is that I cut one potato into cubes and add it when I add the canned tomatoes.
★★★★★
Kate
I love that! Thank you, Patty.
Daniel
Absolutely delicious!!! Thank you Kate!!!! As a stay at home dad this was so quick, easy and scrumptious.
★★★★★
Kate
Great! Thank you, Daniel.
Rachel
This is one of the best soups I’ve ever had; so hearty and delicious, perfect on a cold winter night.
★★★★★
Kate
I love that! Yes, I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for the review, Rachel.
lindy
Made your soup today as Texas was having an ‘ice day.’ SOOO good! Didn’t bother to blend it, just popped it over a scoop of brown rice and love,love love! This is what we call ‘a come backer’ will definately make again! Added spinach as no kale on hand and was grand!
★★★★★
Kate
Perfect for an ‘ice day’! Thanks for sharing, Lindy.
jane emm
She’s not kidding, folks! This is one of the most delicious soups I have ever made. My husband loved it, too. Awesome soup for a wintry night.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Jane! I really appreciate it.
Lindsey
Yum! Has anyone tried this in a slow cooker?
Kate
Thank you! I haven’t, but I would love to hear what you think.
Juna
This was so delicious! I added zucchini because more veggies forever!
★★★★★
Kate
I think that is great! More veggies, yes please. Thanks for the review, Juna.
Sandy
Hi,
I made the spiced lentil soup tonight in my instant pot (with a few tweaks, didn’t drain tomatoes and left out the 2 cups water. 3/4 cup green lentils, 1/4 cup red). It was delicious! The flavor was amazing!
Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Sandy! I’m glad it worked well in your instapot.
Anna geortler
The best lentil soup I have ever had. made this for dinner last night it was super easy to do, i had everything at home for it. Make sure to not omit the lemon, it really does bring the flavors out.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy to hear that! It’s always nice when you have everything on hand. I appreciate the review, Anna.
Sydneyq
Loved the soup! I added mushrooms and paprika because I didn’t have enough carrots and cumin. It was soooo good and I’ll be enjoying it for the next few days. I wish I found this recipe sooner :-)
★★★★★
Kate
Oh that sounds good! Thanks for the review, Sydney.
Astrid
I love lentil soup and this one is absolutely one of the best I have tried so far.
My whole family enjoyed it
Love the kale in there and will double the amount next time I make it.
Keeper!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Astrid. I appreciate the review.
Ellen J Lippman
Delicious! I’ve made it twice this month
Kate
Happy to hear that! It’s simple, but so good.
Diana Lingholt
Just finished making this soup, and it is sooooo good. I used organic carrots, added diced organic celery, chicken stock, organic lacinato kale, and good quality french lentils. I will definitely make it again.
★★★★★
Kate
Great! Thank you, Diana.
Jasmine Hubah
Everything looks yummy
Kate
Thank you!
Mary Lou
Love this soup! Shared it with my vegetarian friends who agreed that it is one of the best soups ever!
Kate
Great! Thank you, Mary Lou.
Valerie E Gilliam
I made this soup last night and it is very good! I am attempting new recipes that are either vegetarian or vegan that my husband will eat and this fit the bill. I added some chopped Canadian bacon and shredded parm for my meat eating husband and I ate it as is. I love this recipe! The only change I made was to rough chop one bunch of swiss chard instead of the kale because I don’t like the texture of kale. 1 bunch was about 4-5 cups and it worked fine in the recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Valerie for the comment and review.