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.
PrintBest Lentil Soup
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- 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.
Jennifer Miklasz
This is the best lentil soup I’ve tried! Such great flavours and filling. I’ll have to add the lemon next time. Loved it.
Carol Petrovich
I just made the BEST LENTIL Soup. And it REALLY IS THE BEST! I did add a little more Red curry and cumin. I had spinach used that and used 8 cups of veggie broth. The tomato base gives it depth and don’t skip blending 2 cups of soup and putting it back in the pot. Loved it! Thank you for the recipe.
Anne
I just made this and absolutely the best lentil soup, just the right spice. I used frozen spinach instead of Kale as I didn’t have any kale
Maria Fernanda
This is indeed the best lentils soup ever! I love it! I’ve been making it for a few months now and every time a cook it, I fall more in love with it! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Raquel Standish
I made this soup last week as I was trying to use up some vegetables and lentils. It was so tasty that I decided not to freeze the leftovers, even though I went away for the weekend. I had the soup for dinner tonight and it was even more delicious. Will definitely be making this recipe again.
FYI – I made it in my slow cooker and it took about an hour. Lentils were perfectly cooked and the colour amazing after so blitzed some of the soup.
Shane Roche
This is the best lentil soup ever. I did change a few ingredients. I used 2 cups of beef broth instead of water. Instead of one large can of chopped tomatoes , i used a smaller can of chopped tomatoes and half can of tomato sauce. Instead of chopping the carrots, i used shredded carrots. Every spooned had shreds of carrots. It was so yummy…
Abbie
How did you make it in the slow cooker?
Raquel Standish
My slow cooker has several settings/functions. I set it on a slightly higher one and after about an hour checked on it. It was perfect so I shut it off.
Abbie
Thank you!
LJ
This was super yummy! Used fresh tomatoes and spinach from the garden and veg stock I canned last year. Also added a big spoonful of dried mushroom powder. Served over mashed potatoes. Definitely putting this in the dinner rotation :)
Bobby-Jo
This was absolutely delicious. We had it with fresh turkish bread from our local artisan bakery ;) thanks for sharing.
Robin A.
Best lentil soup recipe I’ve ever made! I added chopped leeks to the onion and carrots sauté and then poured some red wine into the pot with the stock (I had Cabernet Sauvignon on hand) which brought it to another level! Very rich and the taste was out of this world. Also sprinkled some BelGioioso shredded Asiago/Fontina/Parmesan/Provolone in the bowl when serving. Beyond delicious!
Mike
My daughter and i made this recipe last night and i cant disagree with the name. It was delicious and very simple to make. I would post a picture but it is GONE!
Janna
Thank you, Kate, for this delicious soup. I’m in love with it. I’ve prepared it a couple of times (with fresh tomatoes) and even frozen it for later.
I’ve already shared the recip with several friends.
Kate
Wonderful, Janna! Thank you for your review.
Emily
This is definitely going to be a go-to recipe for this Fall/Winter. The lemon juice gives it a nice tangy flavor in addition to the curry powder.
Robin Meredith Foster
This soup is amazing. I live in a very small apartment where it’s difficult to make things on a stove and so I purchased a crockpot. I made this in the crockpot. I skipped the two extra cups of water thinking that it would be too much liquid and I was right. The vegetables stay crunchy yet lightly cooked.. It’s mouth-watering with fresh kale added at the last minute. The lemon squeezed over-the-top really brightens up this recipe. You’re an amazing cook, thank you for this recipe, I’ll use it again!
I couldn’t control my snacking. It’s unbeatable.
Sheila
Just made it this evening. Followed the recipe just as written. I’m not vegetarian but found it very satisfying. I suspect it’s going to be even better tomorrow. Thanks so much!
Hannah
What a fantastic recipe! I used it as a base and guide for how to cook lentils- as I am new to plant based living and was slightly terrified of this itty bitty bean.
I modified it a bit based on what I had in the cabinet (added seasonal zucchini, fresh tomato, Garbanzo beans, and red kidney beans). Didn’t have veg broth, kale and some of the spices, but it was still super flavorful with salt/pepper/cumin.
Thank you for this- I can’t wait to make it again! Definitely 5 stars
kim
I came across this recipe about 2 years ago (ish). It truly is my favorite soup recipe ever! I made it for my husband and he said “Whoa! This is delicious!” And he is not a big fan of kale or curry. I make it all the time! It is so full of flavor and so incredibly healthy! The only thing i do differently is I use fresh grape tomatoes instead of canned. This soup freezes beautifully! My husband often asks me if I have “some of that kale soup” in the freezer. Yeah – it’s that good folks!
Kate
That’s great to hear, Kim! Thank you for sharing.
Natalie
Great soup recipe – thank you for sharing! I used a medium-size can of tomatoes (14.5 oz) and red lentils because that’s what I had. I added extra kale and topped it with homemade croutons (and of course lemon!). I loved it and I will be making it again soon!
Chandra
This is a really good soup! I added extra carrots, 1 rib of celery, 2 zucchini and around 3 cups of leftover steamed broccoli right at the end as well as subbing frozen spinach for the kale. (I like our soups super veggie filled, and can rarely leave well enough alone.) I also used my immersion blender for a short while instead of the blender as I was making sweet potato soup in the blender for my picky 5yo, and that worked out fine. Thanks for the recipe! This will be made again!
Marilou Benning
I have a question, please – why is the sodium so high on this recipe?
Kate
Hi Marilou, please reference my nutritional disclaimer. You can adjust by not adding salt, using low or no sodium canned ingredients. I hope this helps!
Vivian
I really liked this soup. It will be one of my favorites for this Fall/Winter seasons coming up. I know lentils are very good for us to eat and I want to try an incorporate them more in our diet. This soup will help me be able to do that. I give it 5 Stars
Jessie
This was delish!My lentil soup with be made this way from now on.The only thing I added was some sazon (without annatto). Thank you. :)
Jess
What about making with black lentils? Lentil type seem so discrepant! That’s all I have though.
Kate
Hi Jess! It would likely require longer cooking time and possibly more liquid. I have a lentils post that may help guide you.
Sue C
This is DEFINITELY going into my plant-based recipe rotation! I have found most lentil soup recipes to be flat, without much depth of flavor. This was surprisingly rich and tasty. Blending some into the base really helped. Thanks for a lentil soup recipe that makes me want to make it again.
Allie
I love the flavor of this soup and it was very filling. My only complaint is my lentils took forever to cook and even after 2 hours on the stove they were still crunchy. Dont get me wrong tho, the flavor is all there in this soup but I would maybe cook my lentils in a separate pot before hand and add later.
Yvonne
Hi,I am having the same issue with my lentils not cooking easily today. I didn’t think about it til just a bit ago, but I learned sometime ago that when cooking beans with tomatoes, the tomatoes slow down/stop the beans from cooking. Next time I make this recipe, I think I will add the broth, water, and lentils, let them cook for a bit, then add the tomatoes. But the end result, either way, is very tasty. Yvonne
Celia Askin
I cooked my lentils separately because I’ve had that happen before. The older lentils seem to take longer. I now have extra cooked lentils in the freezer. The soup was amazing and kid approved.
Judith
Absolutely love this recipe, great taste. Didn’t have kale so used roasted butternut squash instead the combination worked. Will definitely make it again
Julie
Any advice for cooking in the instant pot?
Tyler Fordham
I want to make this receipte and am wondering the same thing!
Kate
Hi Tyler, sorry I haven’t tried it in an isntant pot.
Tyler
I looked at other recipes and modified the cooking times (and didn’t add the water) and it turned out pretty dang great. My carnivore boyfriend wouldn’t stop raving about how incredible it smelled.
I had the soup in the instant pot for 15 minutes with a 15 minute natural release. Everything came out the perfect texture and I couldn’t be happier with this recipe.
Kate
Hi! Sorry, I like this one stove top and haven’t made it in an instant pot so I don’t have clear direction for you.
Liz
I made the Lentil soup but I don’t have Instagram plus it was gone so fast I didn’t have time to take a picture. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Thank you!!! This will be a regular in our house.
Madelaine Elmer
Love this recipe so much!! I typically add sausage to it and it goes great with all the flavors!
Jessica
Wow, this was so good! It was my first time cooking lentils and it came out perfect. Didn’t have thyme so left it out, but didn’t miss it at all. I ate this to the last drop. Will definitely be making again.
Nora Marks
Can’t wait to try this soup. A friend made me pots of lentil soup when I was in graduate school and had almost no money for food for myself and my son, so it has a special place in my heart. Lentils are soooo good for you, stick to your ribs and pack a lot of protein. Making this yummy creation tonight!
Linda Ray
I have tried many lentel soup recipes but this by far is my favorite. I made it exactly as listed. Made some yellow rice and poured it over the rice. Fall weather outside and this hit the spot.
Kate
A great soup to start out the season! Thank you for sharing, Linda.
vijetha P V
It came out very well
Whit
This is so good! I made this because my boyfriend loves lentil soup. I wasnt sure how it would go down though because he doesnt like curry powder or cumin. After the first bite though he told me to make sure I save the recipe to make it again. He is right, its delicious!
Kate
Hooray! Yes, the curry in this sends it over the top. I’m happy you both enjoyed it, Whit. Thanks for your review.
Sandy
The Best Lentil Soup is my favorite go to recipe. I make it for all my friends when they visit.
I am asked for this recipe. It’s so easy to make. Delish!
Thank you!
Sandy
Kate
You’re welcome, Sandy!
Michelle Cheung
amazing recipe! the spices make the soup very wholesome and warming. you can swap in any veg you like and the soup is super filling! i think the lemon juice at the end is absolutely key!
Lisa Krissoff Boehm
I made the soup today and it is indeed very tasty. My family loves the way the house smells and cannot wait for dinner.
Teeya
Delicious!!! Added spinach and chopped zucchini at the end. No vegetable stock, used chicken. My boys don’t like tomatoes, so I added a small can to tomato sauce.
Kate Dawson
This soup is amazing! Thank you!
Jules
This was the best lentil soup I’ve ever made! It’ll definitely be on heavy rotation this fall and winter. Thank you.
Olivia
You just did teach this old cat a new trick :)
I am 69 – cooked many pots of lentil soups in my life – none as delicious as this one. :)
Also, love many of your other recipes.
I discovered you first by finding your soba noodle salad recipe a few years back.
Funnily, my niece who lives in Toronto also goes to your blog for recipes as We discovered by accident to both of ours great delight :)
Amanda
Seriously the best. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Rosanne
Love this! I have made lentils before, but like others have said, this will be my new go to! I didn’t have thyme, but the flavor was extraordinary even without it. It took a bit longer that noted but it was worth the wait! I purchased your book and can’t wait to explore! Thanks and cheers to you❤️
Kate
You’re welcome, Rosanne! Thanks for letting me know you loved this soup.
Nicole
This really is the best lentil soup ever. My husband went back to the pot 3 times!!!
Kate
That’s amazing! I’m happy to hear that, Nicole. Thank you for sharing.
Siobhan
The best lentil soup was delicious. I substituted Swiss chard for the kale as I prefer it. Even better the next day
Kate
I’m happy you loved it, Siobhan! Thank you for your review.
Adriana
My (lentil-suspicious) husband teases me, as this is my go to recipe whenever he is gone for a few days for work. It’s like a form of self care at this point! As suggested by some early reviewers, I doubled the curry/cumin/thyme, and I double the chopped kale, too. So much about this soup is so smart, and it feels like a warm hug. Thanks for sharing this!
Jennifer
I can’t believe I’m commenting on a recipe. I have never commented on anything before. This is so delicious. I added parsnips, used turnips greens and tripled the curry. This is the best soup I’ve ever had. Not just the best lentil soup but the best soup of any kind. I dont know what I was expecting but I am pleasantly surprised. Blending a portion of the soup really sends it over the top.
Sarah Louise Bartlett
Just made this best lentil soup and I agree with the name. Absolutely wonderful. Thanks
Kate
I’m happy you think so, Sarah! Thanks for reporting back.
Christine
Thank you so much for not wasting my time with yet another lentil soup recipe that is so so. This is amazing. I used Chana Dahl instead of lentils, but the end product would be very similar I’m sure. I washed and then soaked my dahl overnight and then pre-simmered them for about an hour before turning off the pot and letting it sit. I have had trouble with getting my chana dahl to soften, but this did the trick. It was a beautiful, creamy soup. Thanks again.
Allen
Okay, I’m not a fan of cumin or curry…not a fan at all. The reviews compelled me to try something new, and I just finished my 2nd cup. OMG…it’s SO GOOD! I can’t believe it, but it IS the best lentil soup I’ve ever had!!! Added mushrooms and celery to the recipe, used kale for the greens but made no other alterations. Pureeing the 2 cups of soup changed the whole texture of the pot, so don’t skip it. I make a lot of soups…none more nutritious or delicious than this one!
Kelli Brown
Delicious! Everyone loved
Moni
It is my favorite lentile soup!!
Kathy Rech
Tmade the best lentil soup today. Thanks a lot. Delish. Turned out great!
Lindsay G
Weekly staple! This is the best soup I’ve ever had or made. I’m always impressed with how tasty it is every time I make it. I make some modifications bc I don’t use oil. So I omit oil and use vegetable broth or stock in its place. To make up for any lost flavor from not using oil, I use veg broth instead of 2 cups of water also. Lastly, I prefer spinach instead of kale. Thank you for this recipe!
Angela Mills
Made “the best lentil soup”!
It really is The Best Lentil Soup
Thanks
Angela
Rosie
Outstanding! I used canned lentils.
Mosetta Bodah
This was awesome! After seeing all the comments about this, I knew I had to try this! Its very comforting and has nice flavours for the start of fall. I don’t really like kale, so I added spinach instead. Next time I make this I’m going to eat it with some homemade bread as well. Thanks for a great recipe!
Kim
Thank you for your delicious recipes and the Nutrition Facts as well! It is so helpful when you are watching those calories.
R.
It was delicious! I couldn’t stop eating and had to have second serving. I added cup up red potatoes and didnt have tomatoes so I used 2 cups of tomatoe sauce and red lentils.
Laura Mitzelfelt
Fabulous recipe! I added a can of drained chick peas and a peeled and diced sweet potato for some added bulk. I also substituted baby spinach for the kale. Great flavors and the whole family loved it!
Andrea McFarren
This soup is one of my favorites. It is delicious and quite simple to make and I usually have all the ingredients in my pantry.The soup is perfect as is but I add another half cup of lentils because I like my soup a bit thicker and sometimes I use Fire roasted tomatoes for a little extras spice. I use Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base diluted in water for the broth. It makes such a tasty soup base.
Laurie
I made this soup today and it really is amazing. I did however add a few swirls of balsamic vinegar which I felt balanced it perfectly!
Katie
amazing soup recipe for fall! I added celery, used chicken broth, and added coriander since I didn’t have any thyme – 10/10 recipe! Great tip too to blend a portion of the soup to make it more creamy :)
Errin
Best Lentil Soup indeed! Was delicious with garlic toast for sopping up every last bit, and even non-vegetarian family members loved it. The spices were bold and spot-on. Not that this recipe needs it, but I added red bell pepper and pureed, roasted butternut squash (had some I needed to use up). Still good. Bonus that it freezes well. Will be a fantastic DIY lunch for my kiddos doing online school. Loved, loved, loved this.
Gill
I just adored this soup it really hit the spot on an cold autumn afternoon.
It’s filling,very tasty and comforting.
Thanks for this wonderful recipe I added Turmeric just because I add it to most my dishes.
I’m looking forward to trying out some more of your recipes Kate,
Gill
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Gill! I’m happy you enjoyed it.
Samantha
I’ve made this 3 times and I love it. Making again today. So tasty and healthful. And filling. I feel like a gourmet chef making this. :)
Michelle
Hi there I absolutely love your Best Lentil Soup. It is easy to make and delicious. I often use spinach as my greens. I have made it several times and always make sure I have the ingredients in the pantry.
The lemon is essential I think – adds a real zing
Michelle
New Zealand
Kelly Coppola
This really is the best lentil soup! My husband and I absolutely loved it. So flavorful and the lemon juice really does make it sing. You even got me to make my own vegetable broth for this, which was super easy.
Romy
Whoah baby, this recipe is delish! It’s so flavorful and fragrant. I didn’t include the red pepper flakes as the freshly ground pepper along with other seasoning was perfect for me. Thank you for sharing this pot of goodness. It’s perfect for the fall season. A keeper for sure!
Ylzoo
Hey, thank you so much for this recipe! It was exactly as described
Bruce Larkin
This is the best soup I’ve ever made, and have made it many times. I triple the recipe, it freezes very well. One major difference in how I make it is to use about two-thirds of the vegetable broth and water as I find that that otherwise it’s too thin. I also puree all of it, I guess I like food that’s like baby food. I also don’t use any lemon or kale.
Kate
Thank you for sharing how you make this work for you, Bruce! I appreciate your comment and review.
CélineK
Your lentil soup is just fabulous, thank you Kate!
Kate
You’re welcome! I’m delighted you loved it. Thanks for taking the time to review!
Millie
I keep making this over and over again! The best home-made lentils soup I’ve ever tried! Shared with friends and family internationally, and they all love it! Thank you!
Kerry
Tried this tonight and it was SO delicious! I forgot to drain the tomato’s but I added a little extra lentils, cumin, and curry. Came out perfect, even the kids ate it :) I’ll never buy from a can again.
Halie
Wow and wow. I had three servings of this and it was a-mazing. You are my new favorite blogger! This was seriously the best lentil soup and my husband loved loved loved it!! Great job!
Silvia Buemi
Awesome soup !!
I have added chopped celery. Other option: Add bacon cubes that you pan fry before
Kate
Thank you, Silvia!
Jill Peraud
I just love this soup! It’s the second time I’m making it! My family loves it as well:) Both times I used frozen spinach instead of kale. Thank you so much for such a tasty recipe:D
Kate
That’s a great way to use what you have! Thank you for sharing, Jill.
Rachel E.
I made this soup tonight, and it was the best lentil soup I’ve ever had.
So good!! I waited 2 hours and went back for another bowl. Just perfect.
Suzie
Absolutely delicious!! Thank you for a fabulous recipe. So good!
Jane
Can the best lentil soup recipe be made in an instant pot?
Kate
I haven’t tried it, Jane. But, I believe others have. I would check the comments and see if anyone offers specifics.
Renee Hartman
Very delicious and I will definitely make this one again. Yummy.
Juli Hickey
Great recipe! I’ve been using this recipe for the last couple years, my favorite by far.
Chris Bowers
Loved it – thank you! Was looking for a vegan Harira recipe and came here as your recipes are great! Added chickpeas and fresh spinach… it was amazing – thanks again!!
Dana Nelson
OMG!! I made exactly as is, except left out onions due to intolerance of that….just doubled carrots instead. AMAZING soup!! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I have been looking for a good lentil soup and this is it!
Lori Cogen
I have been making, and enjoying, lentil soup for years! This recipe is now the only one I will make. The spices really make it special. Thank you.
Kate
You’re welcome, Lori! I’m glad you enjoy it.
B Tosczak
Does this freeze well? Will canned lentils work?
Kate
Hi B! This soup does tend to freeze well. Others have used canned in this and didn’t mind the result. You will want to cut down on the amount of liquid though.
Sondra
Yummmm! I made this recipe exactly as written and it was delicious. My two boys (and husband) voluntarily told me how delicious it was. Thanks for a great reicpe!
Kate
Great to hear, Sondra! I appreciate your review.
Sondra
Yummmm! I made this recipe exactly as written and it was delicious. My two boys (and husband) voluntarily told me how delicious it was. Thanks for a great recipe!
Kate
You’re welcome, Sondra! Thank you for your review.
susan keller
In 50 years, I’ve never liked lentils. In anything. Made this soup at a client’s request and holy MOLY, it’s fantastic. I went back for seconds! Thank you!!
Kate
Hooray! That’s great to hear, Susan.
Nicole
what sort of curry do you use?
Kate
Hi Nicole! I usually use Frontier Coop brand spices, their curry powder is great. I hope that helps!
Aimee
This was SO GOOD! I recently learned my iron is low and lentils are high in iron so lentil soup it is! Few personal choices – used crushed instead of diced tomatoes (am I the only weirdo who doesn’t like pieces of tomatoes in cooked dishes??); chicken stock instead of veggie; baby spinach instead of kale; and I used my immersion blender to blend most of it. Served with freshly made homemade gluten free bread and it was amazing! Will definitely make again. Thank you for sharing!
Kate
Thank you for sharing how you made this, Aimee! I’m happy you enjoyed it.
Not so vegan Chris
I was stuck with a lentils bag that I bought during 2020. We never made anything with lentils in our house before, but we had to something with it. Soup came out great. My wife ate 2 bowls and brought a bowl to her friend. I am a meat eater and even I was floored at my creation. Brilliant idea to mix 2 cups in a blender. I wasn’t sure about the kale, but added it at the end and what a difference it made to texture. This soup will be my signature soup. I cook occasionally, but this is the first time I felt like a chef. Will try more of your recipes. Thank you for improving our lives.
K Robinson
I just made this to use up a random selection of veg (butternut squash, carrots, red pepper and kale) and it is soooo delicious!! Will definitely make again. Thanks cookie+kate
NEAL BREDIN
Great recipe… Simple to make and simply wonderful results. I have to confess that I added a non-vegetarian ingredient – ham bone stock instead of vegetable stock. But with or without the ham, this is the best lentil soup recipe I’ve tried. Thanks.
David Noel
Kate,
I have left a review on your lentil soup about a year ago but it deserves a second review. It is a permanent soup recipe for me! It is the best lentil soup out there! The flavors are so wonderful! There is nothing I have to change about it. I make it exactly how you have it listed. I always double the recipe and freeze individual lunch portions. Thank you for putting out such amazing recipes that are simple to make and taste awesome!
Kathyp
Your recipes never fail to deliver. Even the meat waters loved this soup. One meat eater said he hates lentils….he ate two! Only regret….not tripling the recipe! Thank you for always having reliable delish dishes!
Kate
Thank you, Kathy!
Tina
A long time ago I had lentil soup and it was awful so I was turned off to it. Fast forward and becoming plant based I had to give this 5 star lentil soup recipe a try. Loved it. Used arugula as the green because I had to use it up. It worked.
Rebecca A Dutton
Made this for lunch and it was spot on! Love the seasonings. Thanks for the idea! Am happy to have some leftovers. I used fresh tomatoes instead of canned bc I had some I needed to use up and more broth and no water since I needed to use that too. Also added chopped avocado to my bowl and it was really yummy!
Karen
So, this came up when I was searching for a soup with my pantry staples.
Honestly, my soup was really thin and not at all chunky like the pictures. But the flavor profile is AMAZING!!
I pureed the whole soup and added a can of coconut milk to try to thicken it up, and then ended up forgetting about the kale And lemon juice. Ha! But we loved it anyway.
Next time, I’ll double the lentils, for sure, and I might try it with the kale!
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Karen! Thank you for sharing.
Linda
Super soup. Followed the directions and definitely recommend!
Sean Kenny
This looks super, fo the lentils need to be cooked first before adding to the soup?
Kate
No need to cook first, see the instructions. I hope you enjoy it, Sean!
Katie
Oh my! This was literally the best soup I’ve ever had. I made it with chicken stock instead of veggie broth and added chicken at the end and boy oh boy. I couldn’t stop eating it. It was seriously that good! If you are unsure if you should try this recipe, there is no question! It’s amazing!
Tammi Bass
So delicious!!!
Ellen
Do you have a companion salad you would recommend to be served with the Lentil Soup? I love this recipe, and it is my go-to recipe, but I wondered what type of salad to pair it up with. There are so many wonderful recipes on your website.
Thanks!
Kate
Hi Ellen! Favorite Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Pepitas could work. Or a simple lettuce salad with one of my How to Make Vinaigrette (Plus 3 Essential Variations!) recipes would do nicely. Thank you for your review!