Lentil Soup Recipe

Do You Have to Soak Lentils for Lentil Soup?

Many online recipes don’t call for soaking dry lentils, but I like to soak them for two hours before they hit the stovetop. Soaking lentils (or beans) reduces anti-nutrients, which means you get more nutrients when you dig in.

You may have noticed, too, that soaked beans and lentils are easier to digest. That said, it’s totally your call. Skipping the soaking will still result in a tasty lentil soup.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Lentils – I love using French green lentils for this recipe. But yellow, brown, black, and red lentils are just as delicious as long as they’re relatively fresh. 
2. Chicken Broth – For a flavorful soup base, chicken broth is the way to go! If you want a vegetarian soup, swap it out for vegetable broth, but please don’t use straight water.
3. Veggies – Onion, celery, garlic, carrots, diced tomatoes, and green onions are my go-to veggies for this recipe. Feel free to customize that list based on your preferences or what you have on hand. 
4. Seasonings – Ginger, cumin, smoked paprika, white pepper, cayenne pepper, S&P, and some fresh parsley or cilantro for garnishing give this soup deep earthy flavors and a hint of heat. 

How to Make Lentil Soup

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then add onions, garlic, celery, ginger, and cumin. Stir occasionally for 2-3 minutes or until onions are translucent. (Photos 1-2)
• Season – Then add smoked paprika and soaked lentils. Stir and sauté for about a minute. (Photo 3)
• Veggies – Finally, add tomatoes, green onions, white pepper, carrots, and cayenne (optional). Pour in about six cups of chicken broth and salt to taste. (Photos 4-5)
• Simmer – Bring the lentil soup to a boil and let it simmer until the sauce thickens and the lentils are tender. It might take 30 minutes or more, depending on how you like your lentils. Throw in some parsley, adjust for salt and pepper, and thin the soup consistency with more broth if desired. (Photo 6)
• Serve warm with bread.

Recipe Variations

1. You can substitute green lentils with brown, red, or yellow lentils. Chickpeas and split peas are also tasty.
2. If you want meat in this soup, add smoked pork butt, ham hock, or even bacon. 🥓
3. Skip the spiciness. If you don’t eat spicy foods, leave out the cayenne pepper. The smoked paprika will still give the soup that warm, cozy vibe everyone loves without the heat.
4. Vegan lentil soup. Swap the chicken broth out with vegetable broth, and you’re good to go.
5. Make a creamy lentil soup by pureeing your soup with an immersion blender.

Tips and Tricks

1. When you buy lentils, use them within a few months. Older lentils take longer to cook and shed their skins during cooking. And it’s best not to mix newly purchased lentils with the old ones.
2. Soaking your lentils for too long may result in a loss of nutrients. I’ve found soaking them for two hours is the perfect amount of time.
3. You may think that your package of lentils is safe from unwanted intruders. However, sift through the lentils before soaking them to remove debris or pebbles.
4. Keep tasting the lentils as they cook to see if they’ve reached your preferred consistency.
5. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice enhances flavor.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Good news! You can certainly make a big batch of lentil soup ahead. Simply allow it to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container.

Then freeze it up for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw the soup in the fridge overnight and heat it on the stovetop on low. 

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve lentil soup warm with a side of bread or rice.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Reheat them on the stove over low heat. 

What Goes With Lentil Soup

While the soup simmers, you can prepare a side dish or some homemade bread to go along with it. Bread-wise, I like pairing this soup with skillet cornbread or easy dinner rolls—thicker lentil soup plates well with a steamy serving of basmati rice.

And if you’re looking to serve a fun drink with this meal, Jamaican carrot juice goes well with all the earthy flavors. 🧡 Green lentil soup goes great with a good Syrah or Cabernet Franc.

More Cozy Soup Recipes to Try

1. Minestrone Soup
2. Sancocho
3. French Onion Soup
4. Cream of Mushroom Soup
5. Carrot Ginger Soup

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”wWMdQAst” upload-date=”2019-11-26T22:22:31.000Z” name=”Lentil Soup” description=”Lentil Soup – super easy, cozy and healthy lentil soup that is huge in flavor. Loaded with earthy and aromatic spices with a little bit of heat. Best enjoyed with slices of bread or on its own for lunch and dinner. You’ll want seconds or thirds of this!” ]

This blog post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video